Intel CEO Brian Krzanich was supposed to host a rally for Donald Trump in San Jose, but the event was abruptly canceled after Krzanich came under scrutiny for appearing—to the media, at least—to endorse the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.
Krzanich has spent close to $3 million on a “Hack Harassment” campaign that tries to use tech to end threats and hate speech on the web. That has led to some to ask why he wants to throw events for Trump, who during the campaign has at times been less than civil to minorities and women—two groups Krzanich is focused on bringing into the Silicon Valley fold. The New York Times reportedly contacted Krzanich for an explanation, and Krzanich canceled the event in response.
Krzanich had told the New York Times that the fundraiser, set to take place at his home, would include a “full exchange of views” designed to integrate Trump into the technology mindset. An Intel spokesperson told reporters that they were simply trying to “engag[e] both campaigns in open dialogue on issues important to the technology industry.” But that wasn’t enough for pacify the critics, and Trump is now scheduled to speak at a rally at the San Jose Convention Center instead.
Krzanich took to Twitter to apologize for any appearance of impropriety.
I do not intend to endorse any Presidential candidate. We are interested in engaging both campaigns in open dialogue on issues in technology
— Brian Krzanich (@bkrunner) June 2, 2016
Krzanich himself is kind of a boring guy politically—far from a “hardcore Republican” Trump supporter—and doesn’t appear to have made any public statements (aside from the fundraising invitation) supporting Trump. His personal political giving is generally limited to Intel’s own tech-focused SuperPAC (aside from one $15,000 donation to Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden).
And although Intel is “known as a Republican-leaning company” according to Fortune Magazine, the PAC disperses money fairly evenly, (55% Republican donations to 45% for Democrats, just like the PACs for most big tech companies). The PAC has donated to some Republicans’ personal funds—John Boehner ($10,000) and Marco Rubio ($5,000), for example—but it also gives generously to Democrats (Sen. Ron Wyden, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, and Rep. Mike Honda all got $10,000 each from the Intel SuperPAC).
But for now, Trump will have to settle for only a single big backer in Silicon Valley, Peter Thiel, who has given more in time than money.
