Without citing any evidence, proud gay libertarian billionaire and Gawker-killer Peter Thiel went on Tucker Carlson Tonight Monday to accuse Google of conspiring with China, and also to discuss his fears of an Elizabeth Warren presidency.
Was Thiel trying to send a direct message to President Trump via his favorite network? Who knows! But Thiel's comments, which were replayed Tuesday morning on the president's favorite morning show Fox & Friends, elicited a completely predictable and immediate tweet-reaction from Trump praising Thiel as "brilliant," and suggesting that the Trump administration will "take a look" at this accusation.
As the Wall Street Journal reports, Thiel suggested that Chinese intelligence operatives have likely infiltrated Google's Beijing AI lab in order to steal its technology for military purposes. "If you say you’re building a Manhattan Project for AI, don’t you think that would attract the interest of foreign intelligence agents?" Thiel said in the interview with Carlson. He further implied that Google might be in on this somehow, and that the tech giant out to be investigated for treason.
Cue Trump, this morning:
“Billionaire Tech Investor Peter Thiel believes Google should be investigated for treason. He accuses Google of working with the Chinese Government.” @foxandfriends A great and brilliant guy who knows this subject better than anyone! The Trump Administration will take a look!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 16, 2019
You may recall that Trump had some rage for Google about a year ago, claiming that its search results were rigged against him — because of course the algorithm isn't simply picking up on a majority of news coverage that paints him in a negative light.
Thiel also discussed his fears of Elizabeth Warren as a presidential candidate, saying she was the "most dangerous" of the bunch because "She's the only one that is talking about the economy." It seems like others including Bernie Sanders harp on the same issues of economic inequality, but perhaps this signals that Thiel has written off Bernie as no longer a threat.
Needless to say, Thiel and Trump's ongoing love affair, and this baseless jab at Google, are trending on Twitter.
Given that Peter Thiel
— Alexis Goldstein 🔥 (@alexisgoldstein) July 16, 2019
- brought us Palantir, which ICE uses to conduct raids
- personally ended Gawker bc their criticism made him sad
this sounds like an A+ anti-endorsement for Warren https://t.co/9pVBEg0U1N
1) On Tucker last night, Thiel floats that Google is 'treasonously' working with China because Chinese intelligence infiltrated Google, citing no evidence.
— Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) July 16, 2019
2) Fox & Friends promotes the interview this morning.
3) An hour later, Trump says Thiel is an expert and admin will review. pic.twitter.com/Yf8xnj1GTj
Peter Thiel calling Elizabeth Warren the “most dangerous” candidate is pretty much the best endorsement she could get. https://t.co/WtONulbfeZ
— Adam Best (@adamcbest) July 16, 2019
Photo: Dan Taylor/Wikimedia