Chamath Palihapitiya, a billionaire investor who co‑hosts a widely followed business podcast, appeared on a national business news program to discuss his evolving view of former President Donald Trump.
Palihapitiya acknowledged that he previously harbored strong opposition to Trump, describing his earlier stance as a form of “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”
During the interview he argued that much of the public’s perception of Trump was shaped by inaccurate media reporting, emphasizing two key points: Trump did not make many of the statements attributed to him, and some commentators fabricated remarks to damage his reputation.
He said he revisited original source material, including footage from the Charlottesville events, and concluded that his prior judgments were based on misinformation.
Following his review, Palihapitiya recounted a phone call with Trump that prompted him to reassess his opinion, leading him to describe the former president as “fantastic.”
He criticized the practice of fabricating statements to “assassinate” a public figure’s character, calling such actions unacceptable in a democratic society.
Palihapitiya also condemned the refusal to open a savings account for a child solely because the account was linked to Trump, labeling that behavior as “insane.”
He urged the public to approach political discussions with reason and evidence, suggesting that his own experience illustrates the importance of verifying information before forming judgments.
