Trump appoints ‘AI and crypto czar’
David Sacks —AFP
WASHINGTON—US President-elect Donald Trump on late Thursday named former PayPal chief operating officer David Sacks as White House “AI and crypto czar.”
The wealthy tech entrepreneur will take on a newly created role advising the Trump administration on cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence (AI).
“David will guide policy for the Administration in Artificial Intelligence and Cryptocurrency, two areas critical to the future of American competitiveness,” Trump said in a social media post.
“He will safeguard Free Speech online and steer us away from Big Tech bias and censorship.”
Sacks will also lead a presidential council of advisors on science and technology, according to Trump.
Article continues after this advertisementThe entrepreneur, whose wealth has been estimated in the billions of dollars, is considered part of a so-called PayPal Mafia cadre of influential tech entrepreneurs that includes Elon Musk and Peter Thiel.
Article continues after this advertisementThe group was part of that company’s founding era and members have thrown their clout behind conservative political policies and candidates.
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Sacks backed JD Vance as Trump’s running mate in the recent US presidential election, hosting Vance on his podcast in the process.
After PayPal was bought by eBay in 2002, Sacks went on to help create other tech firms, including Yammer, which was bought by Microsoft.
Sacks, who like Musk was born in South Africa, also took to investing in start-ups.
Musk meetings
Musk met with US lawmakers Thursday to discuss his plans for overseeing radical government spending cuts under the incoming administration.
Trump rewarded the Tesla, X and SpaceX chief for his support during the White House campaign by naming him head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, along with another wealthy ally, Vivek Ramaswamy.
Although the office, dubbed Doge, has a purely advisory role, Musk’s star power and intense influence in Trump’s inner circle bring political clout.
During Trump’s election campaign, Musk vowed to reduce federal spending by $2 trillion.
