> despite Trump’s advocacy of protectionist tariffs and extreme immigration restrictions, measures that would seem at odds with the radical libertarian image Thiel projects.
This is what's most baffling considering Trump is the most statist candidate in modern politics. Most of his success is built on anti-immigration and tariffs. He may agree with more non-interventionist/isolationist foreign policy of Trump, but I don't see these as the cornerstone of his campaign. Also, he's been less consistent on those issues, in one breadth suggesting he wouldn't support NATO allies, and in another saying he would be aggressive in internationalist expansion in fighting terrorism.
One theory is that he's an opportunist, and since he is such a unique surrogate of Trump, he will be in a unique position to promote his ideas. The Democratic side is likely more crowded in terms of tech-billionaires writing out checks for a sympathetic ear. He's simply hedging, which ironically he's against as well!
This is what's most baffling considering Trump is the most statist candidate in modern politics. Most of his success is built on anti-immigration and tariffs. He may agree with more non-interventionist/isolationist foreign policy of Trump, but I don't see these as the cornerstone of his campaign. Also, he's been less consistent on those issues, in one breadth suggesting he wouldn't support NATO allies, and in another saying he would be aggressive in internationalist expansion in fighting terrorism.
One theory is that he's an opportunist, and since he is such a unique surrogate of Trump, he will be in a unique position to promote his ideas. The Democratic side is likely more crowded in terms of tech-billionaires writing out checks for a sympathetic ear. He's simply hedging, which ironically he's against as well!