Reid Hoffman wrote that Silicon Valley must not "bend the knee" to President Trump after a second civilian was killed by federal agents in Minneapolis. Hoffman criticized tech leaders who remain silent and urged them to use their economic and platform power to challenge policies that threaten democratic values. Several CEOs—Sam Altman, Dario Amodei and Tim Cook—publicly reacted to the shootings, though some tempered criticism of the president. Hoffman warns that inaction is a choice, not neutrality, and calls for stronger public stances from tech and business leaders.
Reid Hoffman: Silicon Valley Must Not "Bend The Knee" To Trump After Fatal Federal Shootings
Reid Hoffman argues Silicon Valley ‘can’t bend the knee to Trump’ after fatal shootings
LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman urged Silicon Valley leaders not to "bend the knee" to President Trump after a second civilian was killed by federal agents during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis. In an op-ed for the San Francisco Standard, Hoffman — a prominent Democratic donor — argued that tech executives must use their economic and platform power to speak out against government excesses rather than remain silent.
What Happened
Tensions flared in Minneapolis after 37-year-old Alex Pretti was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents during an operation. Pretti's death followed the earlier fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer, which had already prompted protests and outrage.
Hoffman's Call To Action
"January's tragic events in Minneapolis should end that posture," Hoffman wrote. "We leaders in tech and business have power — economic, social, platform power — and sitting on that power right now is not good business. It's also not neutrality. It's a choice."
Hoffman urged executives to speak openly about policy choices and law-enforcement actions they believe harm democratic values and public safety, arguing that quiet acquiescence is effectively enabling further abuses.
Reactions From Tech Leaders
Several high-profile technology CEOs publicly reacted to the Minneapolis shootings. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman criticized ICE for "going too far" in an internal message obtained by The New York Times, while Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei posted on X condemning the violence and stressing the importance of preserving democratic rights. Apple CEO Tim Cook told employees he was "heartbroken" and called for de-escalation.
At the same time, some executives used measured language about the White House: Altman referred to President Trump as a "very strong leader" and expressed hope that he "will rise to this moment and unite the country," and Cook said he had a "good conversation" with the president and appreciated his openness to engagement.
Political Context
The tech industry's stance toward President Trump has shifted in his second term. Since the 2024 election, many Silicon Valley leaders have engaged with the administration — visiting Mar-a-Lago, donating to inaugural events, attending White House meetings, and working with the administration on issues such as state-level AI regulation. Hoffman warns that this closeness should not translate into silence on matters of civil rights and public safety.
Why It Matters
Hoffman argues that corporate and platform power comes with civic responsibility: silence in the face of government actions that risk civil liberties, public safety, or trust is a deliberate choice with consequences for businesses and communities. He calls on tech leaders to move beyond cautious statements to clear, public engagement on policy and human-rights concerns.
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