Silicon Valley venture capitalist Shaun Maguire refuses to cave to backlash after calling out Mamdani for pursuing ‘Islamist agenda’: ‘You only embolden me’

A prominent Silicon Valley venture capitalist doubled down Tuesday in the face of growing backlash for saying Muslim-born Zohran Mamdani, the socialist Democratic mayoral candidate in New York City, is pursuing “his Islamist agenda.”

Shaun Maguire, a partner at venture capital giant Sequoia Capital and vocal supporter of President Donald Trump, called out Mamdani — who was born in Uganda to Indian parents — for listing that he was both “Asian” and “Black/African American” when applying to Columbia University in 2009.

Mamdani “comes from a culture that lies about everything” and is pursuing “his Islamist agenda,” Maguire posted on X last Friday.

The post, which has 5.4 million views as of Tuesday, drew sharp condemnation from the left-leaning tech world, including CEOs who were backed by Sequoia.

Shaun Maguire is a partner at venture capital giant Sequoia Capital and vocal supporter of President Donald Trump. AFP via Getty Images

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