Tech icons pan Trump as ‘innovation disaster’

Tech icons branded presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump an “innovation disaster” on Thursday in an open letter signed by leaders of some of the industry’s biggest companies.

The letter arguing against a Trump presidency was published on the Huffington Post website with nearly 150 names, such as internet pioneer Vint Cerf and founders of Apple, Wikipedia, Yelp and Reddit.

“We believe in an inclusive country that fosters opportunity, creativity and a level playing field,” the letter read.

“Donald Trump does not.”

The letter accused Trump’s vision of being at odds with the open exchange of ideas, free movement of people, and productive engagement with the outside world that help innovation thrive.

“We have listened to Donald Trump over the past year and we have concluded: Trump would be a disaster for innovation,” the letter read.

Backers of the letter described themselves as inventors, entrepreneurs, engineers, investors, researchers and business leaders working in the technology sector.

They also stressed that they were expressing personal opinions and not speaking for any companies or groups.

“We stand against Donald Trump’s divisive candidacy and want a candidate who embraces the ideals that built America’s technology industry: freedom of expression, openness to newcomers, equality of opportunity, public investments in research and infrastructure, and respect for the rule of law,” the letter said.

Names on the endorsement list included Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, Twitter co-founder Ev Williams, Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz, eBay founder Pierre Omidyar, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian and Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales.

“Donald Trump articulates few policies beyond erratic and contradictory pronouncements,” the letter read.

“His reckless disregard for our legal and political institutions threatens to upend what attracts companies to start and scale in America.”