Elon Musk And Other Business Titans Rally Behind Trump Post-Conviction; Sequoia's Shaun Maguire Donates $300K

Business leaders reacted strongly to former President Donald Trump's conviction in his New York hush money trial.

Billionaire Elon Musk and other ultra-wealthy Americans expressed support for Trump after the May 30 verdict, with Sequoia Capital Founder Shaun Maguire donating $300,000.

"Back in 2016, I had drunk the media Kool-Aid and was scared out of my mind about Trump," Maguire posted on X. "As such, I donated to Hilary Clinton's campaign and voted for her. By 2020, I was disillusioned and didn't vote — I didn't like either option. Now, in 2024, I believe this is one of the most important elections of my lifetime, and I'm supporting Trump."

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Musk agreed with Maguire's assessment and posted that Trump's conviction damaged the U.S. justice system.

"Indeed, great damage was done today to the public's faith in the American legal system," Musk wrote. If a former president can be criminally convicted over such a trivial matter — motivated by politics, rather than justice — then anyone is at risk of a similar fate."

Leading up to the verdict, "Shark Tank" star Kevin O'Leary posted on X that if Trump were convicted, President Joe Biden should pardon him.

"Half the country thinks this is a politically motivated prosecution and this would lift Biden out of the garbage he's involved in with this kind of De Niro stuff," O'Leary wrote.

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While the business community rallied behind Trump, Hollywood had the opposite reaction. Comedian Steve Martin posted "Stormy Trumps Donald" and "Today would be a good day for the GOP members to engage in serious self-reflection about their devotion to a convicted felon."

"Abbott Elementary" star Lee Ralph posted on X, "Former President Donald Trump has been found guilty of all 34 counts he faced. A cheer has erupted from Collect Pond Park," referencing a park in Manhattan.

Actor-singer Barbara Streisand called on Trump's constituents to keep their word about not voting for the former president if he were to be convicted.

"Convicted felon Donald Trump is blaming the judge, the jury and New York for being found guilty on 34 counts," she wrote. "He will never accept accountability for his crimes. Americans must not allow this felon anywhere near the White House again."

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