In the current era of deep political division, it is increasingly uncommon for a prominent Democrat to offer praise for any Republican — particularly former President Donald Trump.
With President Joe Biden’s failed policies and rising unpopularity on full display ahead of the 2024 election, however, some one-time Trump critics might start looking at his term in a new light.
That appeared to be the case for Chamath Palihapitiya, a tech billionaire who has generally aligned with the Democratic Party but has recently shown a newfound openness to exploring conservative values.
This week, the former Facebook executive offered a sharp rebuke of those on the left who suffer from “Trump Derangement Syndrome” and cannot acknowledge the accomplishments of the last administration.
NEW: Billionaire and Democrat voter Chamath Palihapitiya admits that he was wrong about President Trump and says he now "appreciates" what Trump was able to do.
Chamath also said Trump Derangement Syndrome did more damage than Trump ever did.
“The work on the border wall, we… pic.twitter.com/vV4e2Y3XFJ
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 17, 2023
“What those guys did was pretty incredible, in hindsight,” Palihapitiya said during the All-In Podcast, which he co-hosts.”
His admission came during a discussion of the current unrest in the Middle East. He contrasted the situation under Biden with the four years of peace that occurred under Trump’s watch.
“To really be able to, like, find long-lasting peace is just a real example for the world,” he declared.
As a specific achievement he now recognizes as a Trump-era high point, Palihapitiya cited the diplomatic agreement known as the Abraham Accords, which set the stage for improved relations between Israel and other nations in the region.
“So much of the work that happened in that administration turns out to have been right — and that’s what’s so frustrating for me,” he said.
Palihapitiya also credited Trump for stressing the need for strong border security and criticized leftists for failing to see past their disdain for the former president.
“The work on the border wall: We didn’t like the messenger, so we killed the message,” he said. “Turned out it was right.”
Lest his audience be deceived into thinking he has been a closet Trump fan all along, a brief review of his prior takes on the former president reveals a deep disdain for his policies and behavior.
As recently as last year, he described Trump as “an idiot savant, minus the savant.
