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In a statement released today, Donald Trump named Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel to the executive committee of his presidential transition team.
The news was broken early last night by Dan Primack.
Thiel largely stood alone supporting Trump in Silicon Valley
Thiel, who donated $1.25 million to Trump's campaign late in the election cycle, mostly stood alone among colleagues in his support for Trump, who was publicly disdained in the Valley. Thiel's support came at a cost to businesses like startup accelerator Y Combinator, which soon attracted negative publicity for having Thiel as a part-time adviser. Thiel also brought criticism to Facebook, where he is a board member, although Mark Zuckerberg defended his place at the company. Thiel further angered First Amendment supporters by bankrolling the Hulk Hogan lawsuit that brought down Gawker.
Thiel said before the election that he would find some way of working with the Trump administration, and although his final role is unclear, his appointment to Trump's executive committee signals the relationship will indeed continue.
JUST IN: Trump names 3 of his children, son-in-law, Bannon & Peter Thiel to transition team lead by Pence & Christie pic.twitter.com/hPMjRN8MWx
— Jackson Proskow (@JProskowGlobal) November 11, 2016
In addition to Thiel, Vice President-elect Mike Pence will act as chairman for the transition team, according to the statement. Three of Trump's children — Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump Jr., and Eric Trump — will serve alongside Thiel on the committee. Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi also made the list, as well as RNC Chairman Reince Priebus.
One more unsurprising name to appear: campaign CEO Steve Bannon, executive chairman of the alt-right website Breitbart. Both Bannon and Priebus have been floated as possible chiefs of staff in the Trump administration.
