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Trump’s alliance with tech billionaires has been lucrative: the richest 15 gained $1T in wealth in his first year. Firms like Palantir won major ICE contracts. Critics say the muted response to Pretti’s death shows profits still trump morality.

Other tech figures doubled down. Elon Musk publicly backed ICE and mass deportations. VC Keith Rabois denied ICE wrongdoing, drawing condemnation from Khosla Ventures founder Vinod Khosla, who called ICE “vigilantes.”

Cook drew criticism for attending a Melania Trump documentary screening the night of Pretti’s killing and for donating $1M to Trump’s inaugural fund. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said ICE went “too far,” but praised Trump’s leadership—and also donated $1M.

LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman urged tech leaders to speak out, accusing ICE of brutal violence and the Trump administration of lying. But many billionaire Trump allies stayed silent. Apple CEO Tim Cook issued only a cautious call for “de-escalation.”

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While Lurie emphasizes “public safety” and courts affordability rhetoric, critics say he has pursued appeasement with Trump and tech elites. Compared to leaders openly condemning ICE, his promises fall short of protecting immigrants and protesters.

Over the past year, ICE agents in SF have threatened protesters with guns, used pepper spray, and driven vehicles into crowds—seriously injuring demonstrators. Neither Lurie, the DA, nor SFPD leadership have publicly condemned these acts.

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie issued a delayed, carefully worded response to Pretti’s killing, avoiding terms like “brutal” or “unlawful.” His statement contrasts with his broader silence on ICE violence in San Francisco itself.

The bloc of tech fascist VCs are funding a major weapons company / Anduril clone in Nigeria called Terra Industries. The CDC, led by Jim O'Neill of PayPal Mafia lineage, is funding a vaccine study on infants in Guinea-Bissau, where colonies are also planned or underway.

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Meanwhile, rents jumped 12% in a year, evictions hit a decade high, transit service was cut, and essential stores closed in poor neighborhoods. Childcare help is welcome, critics argue—but real affordability requires taxing the wealth that SF helped create.

Lurie has opposed a proposed Billionaire’s Tax and stayed quiet on new local taxes to offset looming federal cuts under Trump’s budget, which could cost SF up to $310M annually. Critics say the mayor avoids policies that might alienate the city’s wealthy elite.

Many of Lurie’s allies oppose taxing corporations and back upzoning plans that benefit developers more than renters. While Lurie unveiled expanded childcare subsidies funded by Prop C, the plan largely aids middle-class families and leaves core affordability issues intact.

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Critics warn the effort echoes failed attempts to expand mayoral power by weakening commissions and ballot access. Framed as efficiency, opponents argue the push risks eroding democratic participation in a city where power is already heavily centralized.