20VC: Reid Hoffman on The Trump Administration | Elon Musk and DOGE | The US Defence Budget, NATO and The War in Ukraine | China, Tariffs and TikTok | The Future of Chips, Nuclear Energy, Quantum Computing and Climate

Reid Hoffman is one of the most impactful people in technology and startups. As a Founder he founded Paypal and Linkedin before moving to the investing side where he has led deals in Facebook, Airbnb and more. 

In Today’s Episode with Reid Hoffman We Discuss:

1. China and Tariffs:

• Should the US ban Tiktok and other Chinese companies, given China banning US companies presence in their country?

• How does Reid evaluate the rise of the Chinese car industry? What are his concerns?

• How does Reid hope Trump uses tariffs to advantage the US position?

• What is Reid concerned about what Trump could do with tariffs? What would be bad?

2. Elon Musk and DOGE:

• What impact will Elon Musk have on the future of AI in America?

• Why does Reid believe that it is impossible for DOGE to achieve it’s targets?

• What should Elon must be given credit for? What does he not deserve credit for?

• What are Elon’s greatest strengths? What are his greatest weaknesses?

3. The US Defence Budget and Ukraine:

• Why does Reid believe that the US should reduce their defence budget?

• Does Reid believe the US should continue to finance the war in Ukraine?

• Should the US continue to subsidise NATO’s lack of defence spending?

4. NVIDIA and The Future of Chips:

• Will NVIDIA be able to sustain their monopoly? 

• What is the biggest threat to their position?

• Should both the US and Europe have their own chip sovereignty?

• How does Reid evaluate potential conflict between China and Taiwan impacting chip supply?

5. Nuclear, Quantum and Climate:

• Why does Reid believe nuclear fusion can solve climate change?

• Does Reid believe that with the rise of global conflict and AI, the importance of climate change is reduced in the attention of the world?

• Why does Reid believe that AI does more to help than harm climate change? 

• Why is Reid so excited for a future with quantum computing? 

• What are the biggest dangers of quantum that we need to be mindful of?