Reid Hoffman, the billionaire co-founder of LinkedIn and major Democratic donor, is facing backlash over recent remarks about former President Donald Trump. Hoffman, who serves on the boards of Microsoft and the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Board, allegedly stated he wished to make Trump “an actual martyr,” just days before an assassination attempt on the former president.
Hoffman’s controversial comment, reported by Puck, has drawn significant criticism, particularly given his influential roles at Microsoft and the Pentagon. Hoffman condemned the assassination attempt but quickly pivoted to criticizing Trump’s rhetoric surrounding the Capitol riots. His political adviser, Dmitri Mehlhorn, further fueled the controversy by suggesting the shooting might have been staged to benefit Trump politically.
These remarks have created a public relations issue for Democrats, who have received substantial campaign contributions from Hoffman. Additionally, Hoffman’s roles at Microsoft and the Pentagon are under scrutiny. He serves on Microsoft’s Environmental, Social, and Public Policy Committee, which advises on regulatory risks and public policy matters. At the Pentagon, he sits on the Defense Innovation Board, which provides guidance on technological advancements in warfare.
Political activists are now calling for Microsoft to remove Hoffman from its board. This incident also brings to light Hoffman’s history of employing controversial tactics to influence political outcomes. In 2017, he funded a project using fake social media accounts to dissuade Republican voters in an Alabama Senate election, a scheme that came to light in 2018, prompting Hoffman’s apology.
Hoffman’s recent comments have intensified scrutiny on his influential positions. Both Microsoft and the Pentagon have committed to combating extremist rhetoric, making Hoffman’s remarks particularly problematic. As public pressure mounts, the future of Hoffman’s roles at these institutions remains uncertain.
