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News18
19 minutes ago
- News18
‘Comes From A Culture That Lies': Why Sequoia Partner's Comment On Zohran Mamdani Has Blown Up
Shaun Maguire's comment on Mamdani drew sharp backlash from global founders, with over 100 demanding an apology and action from Sequoia Shaun Maguire, a high-profile partner at Sequoia Capital and a prominent conservative voice in Silicon Valley, is facing sharp backlash for his recent comments on Zohran Mamdani, a New York City mayoral candidate and democratic socialist. The controversy stems from a series of inflammatory posts Maguire made on X (formerly Twitter), accusing Mamdani of being an 'Islamist" and alleging that he 'comes from a culture that lies about everything." The remarks, which many saw as Islamophobic and racially charged, have sparked outrage within the start-up and tech ecosystem. An online petition demanding that Sequoia Capital take disciplinary action against Maguire and provide clear mechanisms to report discrimination and hate speech gathered over 900 signatures, many from founders and executives across the Middle East and South Asia. At the same time, Maguire has received vocal support from other corners of Silicon Valley, indicating the polarised ideological climate gripping the tech industry. What Did He Say About Zohran Mamdani? The current controversy began when Maguire responded to a New York Times report stating that Mamdani had marked himself as both 'Asian" and 'Black or African American" on a Columbia University application in 2009. In response, Maguire wrote on X: 'He comes from a culture that lies about everything. It's literally a virtue to lie if it advances his Islamist agenda." He also described Mamdani, who is a Muslim and democratic socialist, as an 'Islamist." The use of this term was perceived by many as inflammatory and misapplied. Zohran Mamdani, a member of the New York State Assembly since 2021, is the son of Indian filmmaker Mira Nair. He identifies as both South Asian and African and is known for his advocacy on housing, immigration and social justice issues. Why Did It Spark Backlash? Many saw Maguire's comments as not only Islamophobic but also racially charged. Founders and executives from Muslim-majority regions, particularly in the Gulf, as well as Indian tech entrepreneurs, expressed concerns over bias and discrimination from one of Silicon Valley's most influential venture capitalists. An online petition quickly gathered over 900 signatures, calling on Sequoia Capital to investigate Maguire's conduct, issue a public apology, and establish processes for reporting hate speech and discrimination. Tabby CEO Hosam Arab, whose company was once backed by Sequoia Capital India, said: 'It's not about Mamdani either. It's about whether Sequoia is willing to finally take a clear stance or accept alienating hundreds of founders who find these views offensive." On the other hand, Maguire's supporters, including venture capital executives and founders, argued that his comments reflected his personal political stance and should not be grounds for corporate sanction. A separate petition supporting Maguire also began to make the rounds in VC circles. How Did Maguire Respond? Maguire released a 30-minute video on X to explain his thought process and offer a conditional apology. 'This tweet went extremely viral and not in a good way," he said. 'I guess cancel culture is alive and well." Dear Internet,This is why I called Zohran Mamdani an Islamist And as a reminder, Islamism is a political ideology like Communism It's not a race or religion, and only a small fraction of Muslims are Islamists — Shaun Maguire (@shaunmmaguire) July 6, 2025 He added: 'To any Muslim that is not an Islamist and to any Indian that took offence with this tweet, I'm very, very sorry." Despite this, he continued to post defiant messages, including: 'You only embolden me." To the Haters and Losers,You cannot imagine how much Love and Support I've received over the last 48 hours We have cancelled cancel culture Your Hate and Ignorance only fuels me ❤️ — Shaun Maguire (@shaunmmaguire) July 8, 2025 Maguire also defended his usage of the word 'Islamist," stating it was intended to describe only a specific political ideology, not the broader Muslim community. However, critics argue that the context and sweeping nature of his comments cannot be easily separated. Who Is Shaun Maguire? Maguire is a venture capitalist, technologist, and former national security researcher who has become one of the most prominent conservative voices in Silicon Valley. He's a partner at Sequoia Capital, where he's led investments in high-profile ventures such as SpaceX, xAI, and The Boring Company — all part of Tesla CEO Elon Musk's empire. While at Caltech, he was recruited to work at DARPA, the US government's Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency — a body that funds cutting-edge military and defence technology. He went on to co-found the cyber security firm Qadium (later renamed Expanse), which was acquired by Palo Alto Networks for around $800 million to $1 billion. Maguire joined Google Ventures in 2016 and later Sequoia in 2019, where he built a reputation for sourcing deals linked to Elon Musk and other high-growth founders. He is also known for championing right-wing causes, both financially and ideologically, including donating nearly $800,000 to Republican causes in 2023. On X, he has over 245,000 followers and posts frequently on politics, technology and defence. Why This Isn't His First Controversy Maguire has a history of political provocation. He supported the 6 January Capitol Hill protesters, criticised diversity and inclusion initiatives, and publicly endorsed conspiracy theories, including voter fraud claims. He told Fortune that his public stances have cost him friends and family relationships. 'I was at a point in my life where I was willing to face any consequences, as crazy as it sounds, even death," he said on the Uncapped podcast. Maguire has also argued that he was overlooked for promotions because he is a white man, and he frequently posts against progressive causes and left-leaning policies. Why It Matters Now top videos View all The controversy surrounding Maguire's comments is not limited to online outrage; it is being closely watched by the global start-up ecosystem. Sequoia Capital, which has a significant presence in markets such as India and the Middle East, faces growing scrutiny from founders and investors about whether personal views expressed by its partners reflect broader institutional positions. While Sequoia has declined to comment publicly, the response from the global founder community indicates that the issue is unlikely to fade quickly. How the firm handles it could shape perceptions of its inclusivity and neutrality going forward. About the Author Karishma Jain Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @ More Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Sequoia US politics Zohran Mamdani view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 10, 2025, 10:41 IST News explainers 'Comes From A Culture That Lies': Why Sequoia Partner's Comment On Zohran Mamdani Has Blown Up Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
24 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
India overtakes China, Israel in key US billionaires list; Jay Chaudhry richest Indian-American
India is currently the leading country of origin for billionaire immigrants in the US, Forbes noted in its 'America's Richest Immigrants 2025' list published on Wednesday. Israel and Taiwan are next on the list. The article further notes that cybersecurity mogul and CEO of Zscaler, Jay Chaudhry, is the richest Indian-American in the US. He has a whopping net worth of over $17.9 billion. Jay Chaudhry and Sundar Pichai and among the richest Indian-Americans in the US(X and AFP) Forbes reported that there are a total of 125 foreign-born American citizens who currently live in the United States, on its billionaires list. The tally was at 92 in 2022. The publication adds that these immigrants come from 43 countries and 'account for 14% of the country's nearly 900 three-comma fortunes'. Read More: Elon Musk picks fight with several Trump allies hours after Linda Yaccarino steps down as X CEO 'These American immigrants are worth a record $1.3 trillion combined and hold 18% of America's $7.2 trillion in total billionaire wealth,' Forbes noted. India (7) was behind Israel, Canada, and on par with China in terms of origin for billionaire immigrants in 2022. However, New Delhi now leads the list with 12. Israel (11) and Taiwan (11) are next in the 2025 list. China had seven in 2022 and eight in 2025. Read More: US launches $250 Visa Integrity Fee: Will Trump's latest move impact Indian tourists, students, H-1B workers? The Forbes list highlights Indian-Americans like Jay Chaudhry, Sundar Pichai, and Vinod Khosla (Khosla Ventures) as prominent Indian-origin billionaires. Overall, the richest immigrant in the United States is Tesla and SpaceX boss Elon Musk, who is also the richest man in the world with a whopping net worth of nearly $400 billion. Musk was born in South Africa and came to the US via Canada as a college student. Google co-founder Sergey Brin is the second richest immigrant, with an estimated $139.7 billion fortune, according to Forbes. Three of the 10 richest people in America (and the world) are immigrants.
Hans India
30 minutes ago
- Hans India
Election Commission Stands Firm On Bihar Voter List Overhaul Amid Legal Challenges
The Election Commission of India has strongly defended its decision to conduct a comprehensive revision of Bihar's electoral rolls, with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar emphasizing that accurate voter lists are essential for maintaining democratic integrity. Speaking to booth-level officers, Kumar highlighted the positive response from Bihar's electorate to the Special Intensive Revision exercise currently underway. Kumar revealed that the revision process has achieved significant momentum, with more than 57 percent of required enumeration forms successfully collected as of Wednesday. This substantial participation rate comes with 16 days still remaining in the exercise, suggesting strong engagement from voters across the state. The Chief Election Commissioner expressed confidence in the process, stating that the Election Commission of India maintains its unwavering commitment to supporting Indian voters. He emphasized that maintaining "pure" electoral rolls is not optional but essential for strengthening democratic institutions and processes. These statements come as the Election Commission faces mounting legal pressure from opposition parties who have challenged the revision exercise in the Supreme Court. Multiple political parties have questioned the timing and intent of the Special Intensive Revision, particularly given its proximity to Bihar's upcoming assembly elections. The Commission has consistently maintained its position that this comprehensive revision is both necessary and overdue. Officials point out that the last similar exercise was conducted 22 years ago, making the current revision essential for maintaining electoral integrity. The stated objectives include removing ineligible voters and duplicate entries from the rolls while ensuring that all qualified citizens are properly registered to vote. The legal challenge has gained significant traction, with the Supreme Court agreeing to hear multiple petitions on July 10. The opposition to the revision exercise spans across several major political parties, including Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), Shiv Sena (UBT), Samajwadi Party, JMM, CPI, and CPI(ML), who have filed joint petitions questioning the poll panel's decision. The timing of the revision has become a particular point of contention, as it coincides with preparations for Bihar's assembly elections scheduled for later this year. Opposition parties argue that the exercise could potentially disenfranchise eligible voters, while the Election Commission maintains that it is conducting the revision in accordance with constitutional provisions and legal requirements. The Commission's defense of the exercise reflects its commitment to ensuring electoral integrity while managing political criticism. Kumar's emphasis on the enthusiastic participation of Bihar voters serves as a counterargument to claims that the revision is unwanted or unnecessary. The high collection rate of enumeration forms suggests that voters are actively engaging with the process, despite the political controversy surrounding it. As the Supreme Court prepares to hear the legal challenges, the Election Commission continues to move forward with its timeline for completing the revision. The outcome of the court proceedings could have significant implications for both the revision process and the scheduling of Bihar's assembly elections.
