Exclusive: How Palantir's Alex Karp went full MAGA

In a new book about Palantir and its CEO Alex Karp, journalist Michael Steinberger chronicles how a self-described leftist who said his "biggest fear is fascism" became one of the tech leaders powering President Trump's agenda.Why it matters: Karp is among a host of tech billionaires who were once harsh critics of Trump, but now fully embrace him. The company has been at the center of issues dominating Trump's presidency, including DOGE, ICE deportations, Gaza, Iran and AI. Behind the scenes: In "The Philosopher in the Valley," shared first with Axios, Steinberger offers extraordinary access to the CEO of one of the most powerful data software companies. He interviewed Karp during his workouts, met him in cities across the country and abroad, and picked the brains of the people who surround him.Steinberger reports for the first time that Palantir co-founder and Karp's friend Peter Thiel, realizing he had become a public relations liability for the company, offered to step down from the board during Trump's first presidency.Thiel has since found his way back to Trump after refusing to support his 2020 campaign. "I don't want to have endless conversations about Trump because the other side is totally irresponsible," Karp says in the book."They won't do anything on immigration or Iran. They talk all the time about racism but won't talk about antisemitism," Karp, who is biracial and Jewish, told Steinberger."I'm sick and tired of left-wing people fostering right-wing populist movements because they won't be adults about these issues."Steinberger wrote that Karp welcomed liberal scorn: "Being unpopular pays the bills," Karp told him.Steinberger writes that Karp still claimed to be a progressive when they first met in 2019, with Karp expressing seemingly liberal opinions on issues like immigration. The Oct. 7 attacks in Israel, Steinberger writes, cemented Karp's "political metamorphosis" and the anti-Israel protests that followed "led him to decisively break with the Democrats."Karp remained publicly supportive of the Israeli government, but privately expressed fury — mostly at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — over the security lapses that led to Oct. 7.What's next: The book will be published on Nov. 4.

Comments

World news

NDP hopeful Ashton clarifies stance on tanker ban reversal but still gets nod from Danielle Smith

National Post

If Trump’s East Wing demolition shocks you, check out what he did to priceless works meant for the Metropolitan Museum of Art

about 3 hours ago

Independent

Photos reveal shocking destruction of East Wing as crews work to make way for Trump’s ballroom

about 3 hours ago

Independent

‘Quarterbacks,’ ‘face cards’ and spy tech: How the Mafia allegedly teamed up with NBA stars to rip off high-stakes poker games

about 3 hours ago

Musk's rollercoaster year: From boycotts and plunging earnings to a potential trillion-dollar payday

Independent

Comments

Similar News

Exclusive: Sanders weighs in on AOC's future, 2028

Exclusive: Bernie Sanders slams media's coverage of Graham Platner

Exclusive: Trump's border czar says 600k to be deported in 2025

Exclusive: Hegseth's military speech a "waste of time," Panetta says

Exclusive: Government shutdown signals weakness to foes, ex-Defense Secretary says

Exclusive: Trump judicial nominee "indefinitely" stalled by criminal probe

Exclusive: W.H. cites George Washington for Trump paying troops without Congress

Apple swoops on exclusive F1 US TV rights amid expansion into sports

Exclusive: Trump immigration plan could cut workforce by 15M through 2035, study says

Exclusive: MTG slams parts of Trump's second-term agenda as "America Last"

Exclusive: Senate leaders give each other the silent treatment

Exclusive: MTG goes after Johnson again — this time over Cory Mills comments

Exclusive: Why the White House is convinced it's winning the shutdown

Exclusive: Inside John Thune's next move to reopen the government

EXCLUSIVE: The untold story of 'the deputy' in the Vice Media cocaine plot who has avoided jail

Exclusive: The web is still mostly written by humans, study finds

Trans people at risk of exclusion from many UK public spaces, rights expert says

Amazon’s $40m Melania Trump doc set for January release with ‘exclusive footage’ of ‘critical meetings’

Halifax gym removes race-based pricing after 'criticism,' says it was not meant to be 'exclusive'

Exclusive — Trump on Gaza deal push: "I said, 'Bibi, this is your chance for victory'"

World news

NDP hopeful Ashton clarifies stance on tanker ban reversal but still gets nod from Danielle Smith

Carney and Ford say they’re on the ‘same page’ in U.S. trade talks

Nova Scotia’s premier wants to learn from Ontario’s nuclear power project

Trial of 3 Trail firefighters, charged with off-duty assault, set to go ahead

Oil prices spike after US, EU hit Russian oil companies with new sanctions

Melania Trump sued by author over alleged billion-dollar hush money threat

Winnipeg Blue Bombers set record with 14 consecutive home sell-outs

Joe Rogan has a bonkers idea for Trump to troll liberals with a new job after leaving the White House

Trump called off sending border agents to San Francisco after mayor’s phone call

David Ellison has ‘Trump card’ in Paramount’s pursuit to take over Warner Bros. Discovery

Live updates: NBA stars and Mafia among 30 arrested in massive sports betting and gambling probe

Watch those texts! Smartphones emerging as a new way for public figures to get into hot water

If Trump’s East Wing demolition shocks you, check out what he did to priceless works meant for the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Photos reveal shocking destruction of East Wing as crews work to make way for Trump’s ballroom

‘Quarterbacks,’ ‘face cards’ and spy tech: How the Mafia allegedly teamed up with NBA stars to rip off high-stakes poker games

Musk's rollercoaster year: From boycotts and plunging earnings to a potential trillion-dollar payday

States worry about how to fill the gap in food aid ahead of a federal benefits halt

As federal agents ramp up Chicago immigration crackdown, more elected officials caught in crosshairs

Tech CEO and guest on Bravo’s reality show ‘Below Deck’ is charged with murder in hit-and-run crash

Trump pardons Binance founder convicted on money laundering charges to end ‘war on crypto’

Will Trump’s Russia Oil Sanctions Finally Sway Putin?

Lithuanian president says Russian military planes violated the Baltic country's airspace

Trump's turnaround on sanctions targets Russia's oil companies that fund the war in Ukraine

South Korean delegation of lawmakers visits Cambodian site of alleged online scam ring

NATO scrambles warplanes as Russian jets breach European airspace AGAIN

The decades-old exemption that lets Trump fast-track White House rebuild

China names new second highest-ranking general after military purge

Watch: Video appears to show alleged Louvre jewel thieves escaping

NBA injuries, x-ray poker tables and the mafia: What we know about gambling arrests

No Russians or Belarusians at Winter Paralympics

A Mystery in Trinidad as Bodies Wash Ashore After U.S. Strikes

Trump Says Israeli Annexation of West Bank Land ‘Won’t Happen’

Trump pardons Canadian crypto billionaire serving money laundering sentence

Quebec government to ban religious symbols in daycares

Saskatchewan’s Duck Lake to sell naming rights to historic community

Rookie Trey Yesavage named Blue Jays’ starter for Game 1 of World Series

Nova Scotia car crash survivor inspires other teens, walks Paris Fashion Week

‘A predator’: Victims of Arturo Garcia Gorjon relive sex assaults at sentencing hearing

Ford will watch World Series from ‘man cave’ given ticket prices, predicts Blue Jays win

Part-time faculty on strike at two Halifax universities

NBA superstars and mafia among 31 arrested as part of major illegal gambling crackdown in United States

New Sam Adams ‘extreme beer’ is illegal in 15 states

Louvre thieves filmed making painfully slow getaway after whirlwind crown jewels heist

What does the Israeli proposal to annex the West Bank involve after JD Vance hits out at ‘stupid political stunt’

Trump called off sending border agents to San Francisco after mayor’s phone call

First half of this year had record-breaking price tag for U.S. climate and weather disasters

‘Well, bless her heart’: Mike Johnson confronted with MTG’s statements bashing him over healthcare

Pakistan’s Year of Diplomatic Miracles

What scientists saw underwater in Florida left them “shocked” — and devastated

Why Jess Phillips is in the firing line in the grooming inquiry chaos

Starmer facing new backlash from MPs over ‘discriminatory’ universal credit cuts

Digital ID to be voluntary… unless you want a job (or benefits)

International Criminal Court judges reject jurisdiction challenge in Duterte case

Senate rejects dueling bills to pay federal workers

Ringleader behind arson attack was 'groomed' by Russian chatbot, court told

Power of sanctions against Russia lies in US financial system that greases the wheels

How Ukraine refinery strikes and US sanctions are squeezing Russia at home