Reid Hoffman Wants Silicon Valley to ‘Stand Up’ Against the Trump Administration
Reid Hoffman doesn’t want to do more with half measures. He co-founded LinkedIn, of course, and helped bankroll companies including Meta and Airbnb in their early days. He also fashioned himself, through books, podcasts, and other public appearances, as the most intelligent thing in society—a philosopher of capitalism who insisted that technology can be a force for good.
Recently, Hoffman has emerged as one of the most prominent defenders of artificial intelligence in Silicon Valley. His new book, 2025 The Superagencymakes the case that AI will not diminish human power but will enhance it. In our interview on this week’s episode of The Big Interview, Hoffman was very critical of the use of AI for everything, whether you’re looking for a research assistant or a second opinion on your blood work. Hoffman even relied on AI to make the most unusual—and perhaps uncomfortable, depending on your view of AI-generated creativity—Christmas gifts I’ve heard of lately. (And no, he didn’t find me.)
Whatever you think of Hoffman’s views on AI, credit where it’s due: He’s also been an outspoken critic of President Trump—a rare trait in the tech world that grows quiet, or cozy, when it comes to the brutality of the American administration. Hoffman’s outspoken political views have not had consequences: Trump has twice threatened to investigate him, most recently asking Attorney General Pam Bondi to dig into Hoffman’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. (In 2019, Hoffman apologized for his mid-2010 relationship with Epstein, which he said was solely related to MIT fundraising. He then asked the government to release Epstein’s files in full.)
Despite those threats, Hoffman is pulling no punches: When we sat down to record the episode in mid-December, he simply called out the administration for undermining the American government, criticized his peers for keeping their heads down, and urged Silicon Valley to stop pretending that neutrality is a virtue. If they meant billionaires.
This interview is edited for length and clarity.
KATIE DRUMMOND: Reid Hoffman, welcome to The Big Interview. I am very happy to have you here.
REID HOFFMAN: I’m glad to be here.
We like to start these discussions with some very quick questions. A little warm. Are you ready?
Good!
Voice memo or text message?
Text message.
Cooperative games or competitive games?
Cooperative games.
Big difference between you and Elon Musk?
Cleanliness.
What is the hardest lesson you have ever learned?
Oh gosh, there’s so much. Maybe when to stop.
Who do you want to run for president in 2028?
Cleanliness.
Cleanliness in the president.
Yes, of course. You know, it’s funny, I probably can’t give a good answer to that question. I mean, the people I would want to be president probably won’t.
Oh, that’s too bad.
Yes.
Can’t say their names?
Since I have tried to persuade them to do so, I think it is probably disrespectful.
I’m obsessed. Next time we talk I will force you to tell me. What is your one, personal, killer use case for AI?
Well, I just produced a holiday Christmas album as my Christmas present for all my friends.
I think they all know that music is produced by AI?
Yes. And it’s on record. We put it on the records.
So from your heart to AI…
Yes.
… on their Christmas tree.
I’ve always had this desire to have some funny Christmas music and love for this holiday. So, there’s a song about ugly sweaters and, you know, all these kind of things. As opposed to “holly, jolly Christmas,” you know, something with a sense of humor. Almost like what “Weird Al” Yankovic would do if he made a Christmas album.
