In recent weeks, the GOP has been caught in an awkward spot as some of its wealthiest figures, with their big voices and even bigger wallets, seem to make it harder for the party to appear as though they genuinely stand for regular folks.
Take Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk, for instance. Last week, they faced criticism after they seemed to imply that American-born workers were somehow less capable than those coming to the U.S. on H-1B visas. But they weren’t the only ones in hot water. Marc Andreessen, a tech billionaire who’s closely tied to the MAGA movement, made waves after an old, controversial comment resurfaced.
Back in 2017, Andreessen was reportedly having a conversation with journalist Rick Perlstein about life in small-town America. According to Perlstein, Andreessen said something along the lines of: “I’m glad there’s OxyContin and video games to keep those people quiet.” The comment, which was shared in a 2023 article, painted a grim and, frankly, unflattering picture of small-town Americans. Perlstein later clarified that he might not have remembered the exact words, but the sentiment was clear: Andreessen didn’t have much regard for those struggling in rural areas.
Marc Andreessen, of course, pushed back, saying Perlstein had misquoted him and accused the journalist of slandering him. But Perlstein stood by his story, challenging readers to decide for themselves. He even suggested reporters ask Andreessen directly whether he looks down on the people he grew up with.
This all feels eerily familiar to the kinds of comments made by Donald Trump over the years, and it brings to mind a similar portrayal of rural America from Vice President-elect JD Vance’s 2016 book Hillbilly Elegy. Interestingly, Vance, who reportedly has ties to Andreessen’s venture capital firm, defended the billionaire on social media, calling him “a good dude” and dismissing the claims as slander.
But it didn’t go over well. Many in the MAGA crowd were quick to call out Vance, with some even accusing him of defending the rich at the expense of the working class. It’s clear that some are waking up to the reality that the MAGA movement, despite its populist image, might actually be serving the interests of the wealthy elite.
Does this mean MAGA voters will change their stance? Probably not. But it does seem like a small, yet telling, moment of resistance within the movement — one that might not shift the tide, but certainly adds fuel to the fire.
