How business leaders are responding to Kamala Harris selecting Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate (2024)

Advertisem*nt

Elon Musk

Though the Tesla CEO didn't post on X directly about Walz, Musk boosted some posts on the platform about him. Musk commented "🤔" on a post comparing the flag of Minnesota to that of Somalia, noting how Walz "turned his home state into Somalia and now he wants to do the same to our country."

Musk also commented "!!" on a Libs of TikTok post criticizing Walz's executive order protecting gender-affirming care.

Musk noted on July 13 that he "fully" endorsed Donald Trump, noting he would donate $45 million a month to the pro-Trump America PAC.

Musk has been under pressure to make changes to X's Grok, its AI search assistant tool that has spread false election information concerning Harris.

Musk previously posted on X after Biden's withdrawal that he believes "in an America that maximizes individual freedom and merit. That used to be the Democratic Party, but now the pendulum has swung to the Republican Party."

Advertisem*nt

Reid Hoffman

The cofounder and executive chairman of LinkedIn posted on X that Walz is "a lifelong public servant who represents the best of our country."

"A dedicated teacher, former guardsman, an advocate for women's health, and a family man, he cares deeply about America's future," he continued. "Together, Harris and Walz will fight for everyone—no exceptions."

Hoffman, who has blasted business leaders for supporting Trump, noted on X that Walz has "fostered a pro-business climate, attracting substantial investment and positioning the state as a top contender for business development."

Hoffman in January donated $2 million to the Granite for America super PAC in support of Biden's campaign. Hoffman was quick to back Harris as the Democratic nominee shortly after Biden dropped out of the race, noting that Harris "is the right person at the right time."

Advertisem*nt

Mark Cuban

The entrepreneur and "Shark Tank" investor praised Walz on X, noting how he can "sit at the kitchen table and make you feel like you have know [sic] him forever."

Cuban noted that Harris "went from worst to first" and said it's not a reach for Walz to have the same transformation.

In fact, Cuban believed that Harris' and Walz's non-Ivy League pedigree would be arguably more attractive to voters than Trump and Vance.

"People are tired of the ideologues and hate from both parties," he wrote in an X post on Tuesday. "They want to vote for normal people they can relate to."

In a comment, Cuban noted that Walz "never pardoned the May 2020 Minneapolis hostages," referring to the George Floyd protests.

Cuban, who supported Biden even after his faulty debate performance, was among the first business leaders to post after Biden dropped out, writing on X, "Father time is undefeated."

Advertisem*nt

Shawn Fain

Shawn Fain, president of the United Auto Workers, praised Walz shortly after the announcement, noting how he has "been a great governor and is going to make for a great Vice President."

"He's stood with the working class every step of the way, and has walked the walk, including on a UAW picket line last fall," Fain said.

The UAW, in a separate post on X, noted that Walz "doesn't just talk the talk, he walks the walk."

Walz has fought for increased labor protections as governor, including guaranteeing sick time and implementing paid family and medical leave. The 2023 laws also gave blue-collar workers more safety protections.

Advertisem*nt

Liz Schuler

The president of the AFL-CIO, the US' largest federation of unions, took to X to state she is "Thrilled to continue working with you both to make our unions and working families stronger."

"Governor Walz isn't only an ally to labor — he's our union brother with a deep commitment to a pro-worker agenda," the AFL-CIO wrote on X. "Labor stands united behind the Harris–Walz ticket and ready to help lead the effort to defeat Trump, Vance and their Project 2025 agenda."

Advertisem*nt

Aaron Levie

Box CEO Aaron Levie cheered Harris' pick as "fantastic" in an X post Tuesday, citing Walz's balance between compassion and "pro business policy."

Levie, a Harris supporter who previously praised Biden for stepping down, also railed off a slew of flattering stats about Walz.

"Minnesota is ranked #3 for happiness, #2 for Fortune 500s per capita, #6 for businesses, and #2 for life expectancy," Levie wrote. "And he was the 7th most bipartisan member in congress."

Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian responded to Levie's post with a joke about the similarly high-ranking status of the "juicy lucy" — a famous cheese-stuffed hamburger hailing from Walz's home state of Minnesota.

Advertisem*nt

Mark Pincus

Mark Pincus, the founder of gaming company Zynga of FarmVille fame, didn't seem to be on board with Harris' running mate pick.

"Frightening. Walz likes Omar the Paly squad member," the Jewish businessman wrote in an X post on Tuesday.

Pincus's remarks were made in response to a video clip of Walz voicing his support and admiration for Rep. Ilhan Omar. The Minnesota congresswoman was criticized after she'd described Israel's war in Gaza as a genocide.

Pincus had earlier supported Biden's decision to end his reelection campaign, though he did signal his preference for an open convention instead of letting Harris take over directly.

It's not just Walz. It seems that Pincus would rather someone else be the Democratic nominee instead of Harris.

On Saturday, Pincus said in an X post that he wished the Democratic Party had South Carolina's former governor Nikki Haley as their candidate after she'd called for the US to maintain its support for Israel.