The Tech Oligarchs, Trump 2.0, and the War on Democracy

We are watching as a faction of Silicon Valley’s most powerful players shift from disruptors to reactionaries—tech oligarchs who once paid lip service to progress and democracy are now openly hostile to it. Their goal? Consolidate power. Dismantle oversight. Replace democracy with corporate feudalism.

Once, these billionaires positioned themselves as the architects of a better future, branding their companies as forces for good. But as their own platforms fostered activism, worker empowerment, and social change, they began to realize something uncomfortable: the world they helped build was no longer under their control.

And so, they turned.

Now, these same figures are dismantling institutions, attacking labor, and aligning themselves with authoritarian governance—all to ensure that wealth and power remain in the hands of a select few.

How We Got Here

History has seen this before. Wealth accumulation breeds instability when it isn’t shared, and those who benefit most will always fight to maintain their dominance. Industrial capitalism created its own opposition—the labor movement. Today, the tech industry is witnessing a similar moment.

• The platforms that made them rich also empowered dissent. Social media, once seen as a force for democratization, became a space for radical movements, labor organizing, and progressive political mobilization.
• Regulation became a threat. As governments sought to hold tech accountable—whether on antitrust, worker protections, or misinformation—Silicon Valley saw oversight as a betrayal.
• The new battlefront is control over information. Tech moguls now seek to own not just platforms, but governance itself. What started with Twitter’s descent into X is now playing out on a much larger scale.

Rather than face a world where power is distributed more equitably, these elites are choosing to destroy the structures that ensure fairness—whether it’s independent media, the rule of law, or the very foundations of democratic government.

Why Silence is Their Greatest Weapon

This is a playbook as old as time: manufacture fear, sow division, and make people believe that resistance is futile. But here’s the truth—there are more of us than there are of them.

The only way they win is if we stay silent.

• If you are in tech, push back against the narrative that corporate control is inevitable.
• If you are a business leader, recognize that true innovation thrives in open, democratic systems—not authoritarian rule.
• If you are an employee, demand better. Your labor, your ideas, and your voice are what built these companies in the first place.
• If you are a voter, refuse to let democracy be replaced by the whims of billionaires.

The future does not belong to the wealthiest. It belongs to ALL of us. To those who see power not as something to hoard, but as something that must be accountable to the people.

The question isn’t whether we can fight back. It’s whether we will.

Use your voice. Stand up. Push back.

Because we are not a nation to be ruled by oligarchs or kings—we are the land of the free and the home of the brave.

It's time for all of us to be brave.

About Colin and ExecNow

Colin is the Founding Partner of Execnow, along with Founding Partner Kahlil Dumas , an executive search firm dedicated to connecting innovative companies with diverse, mission-driven leaders who can transform their vision into reality. At ExecNow, we specialize in helping founders, VCs, and private equity firms build leadership teams that align with their strategic goals. With a focus on diversity, inclusion, and excellence, we work across industries like tech, biotech, and climatetech to deliver tailored solutions for executive hiring.

Ready to build the leadership team your company deserves? Visit ExecNow.co or connect with Colin directly to learn how we can help.