Varying from simple statements of showing concern to lending support in different ways, here’s a look at how Silicon Valley’s brightest minds reacted to Trump’s immigration order.
To say US President Donald Trump is the reason for the ongoing chaos in the country would be an understatement of sorts. The entire country is enraged over the recent major decision that the US President has undertaken by signing the order on immigration which bans refugees from Muslim-dominated countries from entering the country for a period of 120 days. This order further extends to an indefinite ban on Syrian refugees. People from all over the US began carrying out protests at the JFK airport in New York, and the LAX airport in Los Angeles, among a few. Big names from the tech industry have also joined in and have spoken against Trump’s order.
To begin with, Amazon has issued certain key points in relation to the order which has been reported by The Verge. Amazon advises that those who are presently working in the US and have plans to travel abroad, should refrain from doing so fearing further complications. For those who are working in the US but plan to travel abroad, can contact amazonimmigration@amazon.com. Amazon has also assured support for their employees and their immediate family with legal counsel and is continuing to look out for developments.
Tesla’s Elon Musk, in a two-part tweet shared his views on the recent immigration order by saying that this move “is not the best way to address the country’s challenges”. His tweet continued this way, “Many people negatively affected by this policy are strong supporters of the US. They’ve done right, not wrong and don’t deserve to be rejected.” Elon Musk’s statement has reportedly received criticism citing reasons that they were not strong enough against the immigration order.
Netflix CEO Reed Hastings termed the move “un-American” and highlighted how Trump’s actions are affecting all Netflix employees around the world. He continued his wrath on Facebook post which read, “Worse, these actions will make America less safe (through hatred and loss of allies) rather than more safe.” Lending out support came from Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky as well, who willingly offered free housing to “anyone not allowed in the USA.” ALSO READ: US President Donald Trump’s gag orders defied by government workers on Twitter
Uber’s CEO expressed his support by pledging to compensate its drivers stuck abroad. He vows to take the fight ahead as he explains in a Facebook post, “This ban will impact many innocent people – an issue that I will raise this coming Friday when I go to Washington for President Trump’s first business advisory group meeting.” Uber’s actions however drew the wrong attention with people starting an online campaign called #DeleteUber after it removed surge pricing from its service to aid people at the JFK airport. However, people soon took to social media and started deleting the app saying that Uber was a “strike breaker” and even termed it as supporting fascism, xenophobia and racism.
Taking a look at the statements issued by tech giants, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that the orders issued by Trump “are not a policy we support.” Cook also said that Apple is in protest of the immigration ban and has reached out to the White House in doing so. ALSO READ: Indian IT companies are daunted by Donald Trump’s ‘Buy American-hire American’ vow
Google in a statement to Bloomberg said, “We’re concerned about the impact of this order and any proposals that could impose restrictions on Googlers and their families, or that create barriers to bringing great talent to the US.” Google CEO Sundar Pichai pitched in by saying that it is “painful to see the personal cost of this executive order on our colleagues.” Google co-founder Sergey Brin took a major step forward by actually taking part in one of the protest marches at San Francisco International Airport.
Social media giants Twitter and Facebook had a say in the situation as well. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey termed the order “real and upsetting” and, “We benefit from what refugees and immigrants bring to the US.” Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that he was “concerned about the impact of the recent executive orders signed by President Trump.” ALSO READ: After Twitter, Facebook, now Google refuses to help Donald Trump create a national Muslim registry
Microsoft’s statement too reflected similar sentiments. CEO Satya Nadella said that the company shares the concerns of the order’s impact on its employees who are from the seven listed countries and have been in the US lawfully. Microsoft also said that it is working with its employees to provide legal advice and assistance.
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