Peter Thiel: Trump victory means ‘all hands on deck’

Billionaire tech investor Peter Thiel said Wednesday morning that Donald Trump’s shock victory left him facing an “awesomely difficult task.”

“Congratulations to President-elect Donald Trump. He has an awesomely difficult task, since it is long past time for us to face up to our country’s problems,” said Thiel, who had long been Trump’s only major supporter in Silicon Valley.

{mosads}“We’re going to need all hands on deck.”

Hall did not immediately respond to an email on Wednesday asking if Thiel would accept a nomination to the federal bench, should Trump offer it, or another position in the incoming administration.

Thiel’s response puts him at odds, once again, with his peers. Several major Silicon Valley figures expressed their anxiety Tuesday with a potential Trump victory.

Among them was Sam Altman, who leads startup accelerator Y Combinator. Earlier this year, he defended the organization’s association with Thiel in light of his support for Trump.

Thiel stood by Trump even as he was shunned by most in the tech sector. He spoke at this summer’s Republican National Convention and donated in support of the candidate last month.

Thiel’s support for Trump came as he funded a lawsuit by pro wrestler Hulk Hogan designed to take down Gawker Media.

He said at a recent event, however, that he has a “somewhat schizophrenic view of politics.”

“There are some problems that can’t be solved outside of this political arena,” he said. “The way I deal with my schizophrenia is that I occasionally get involved but don’t want to make it a full-time thing.”