Airbnb cofounder Joe Gebbia leaves Democratic Party, embraces Trump

By 
 September 2, 2025

Artist and entrepreneur Joe Gebbia is best known for helping to found the international online rental company known as Airbnb.

However, Gebbia gained attention for a different reason this week after the lifelong Democrat announced that he now supports President Donald Trump. 

Airbnb cofounder points to Biden's immigration crisis

According to the New York Post, Gebbia discussed his shifting political allegiance during an interview on Monday with podcast host Katie Miller.

The billionaire explained that seeing former President Joe Biden's refusal to secure America's southern border was a key issue for him.

"I remember just being like, ‘Holy cow, this is crazy,'" Gebbia explained. "Like, 'This is not right, this is a real problem and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be enforcing the laws of our country and our border.'"

Gebbia points to friendship with RFK Jr.

Gebbia recalled speaking with Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, an experience which "started to pull on that thread" along with other issues.

"I sort of, you know, begin to look at other topics and eventually came to the point where I don’t think I can support a political party that wants to have an open border, that lets in criminals and dangerous people into our country. That’s just not something I can get behind," he stated.

"I’ve been on my journey. Everyone’s been on a journey," Gebbia continued before pointing to his friendship with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

"I think through, you know, certainly Bobby Kennedy and supporting him, and I’ve been so grateful for the work that he’s doing, to be somebody who just cares so much about the health of our nation, and you know, has no ties to industry and is really just able to bust through walls and sort of, like, right-size the ship," he stressed.

Gebbia tasked with improving government websites

Fox Business reported late last month that the president appointed Gebbia to serve as the National Design Studio chief design officer.

"I’m honored to be appointed by Trump as the first Chief Design Officer of the United States of America," Gebbia said in a social media post.

"My directive is to update today’s government services to be as satisfying to use as the Apple Store: beautifully designed, great user experience, run on modern software," the entrepreneur explained.

"An experience that projects a level of excellence for our nation, and makes life less complicated for everyday Americans," he declared.

" A free people [claim] their rights, as derived from the laws of nature."
Thomas Jefferson