On Sunday, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman found himself amid controversy following recent comments he made wishing that former President Donald Trump could have been an “actual martyr.” The Democratic super-donor and tech entrepreneur made the inflammatory remarks at the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference last week. Hoffman was reported to be in a disagreement with fellow tech entrepreneur Peter Thiel, who supports Trump. According to Puck News, Thiel expressed his gratitude for the legal action taken against Trump, stating that it had turned the 45th president into “martyr.” Hoffman responded by wishing that Trump would become an actual martyr.
In light of the assassination attempt on Trump during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, Hoffman clarified his earlier statement, expressing that he was “horrified and saddened” by the shooting and wished Trump a speedy recovery. He further explained that when he referred to Trump as an “actual martyr,” he meant that the former president should let himself be held accountable for his legal issues, including his criminal conviction in Manhattan for falsifying business records and other pending cases against him. Hoffman made it clear that he did not intend any reference to physical harm or violence.
Hoffman’s advisor, Dmitri Mehlhorn, also issued an apology after sending an email to journalists suggesting that the shooting in Pennsylvania might have been “encouraged” or even “staged” to benefit Trump. Mehlhorn expressed regret for his initial email and condemned political violence. He acknowledged drafting and sending the email without consulting with others, stating that he had apologized directly to those affected.
The assassination attempt on Trump left him as one of four people shot during the rally when 20-year-old gunman Thomas Crooks opened fire. Hero firefighter Corey Comperatore was the sole fatality in the incident.
