The White House under Donald Trump has been accused of embracing a culture of anti-intellectualism driven by powerful technology billionaires — leaving the administration “effectively lobotomised,” according to a prominent digital media strategist.

In a blistering critique, writer Elizabeth Spiers argues that the political and corporate elite surrounding Trump increasingly dismiss deep thinking and academic expertise, replacing it with technological shortcuts and ideological certainty.

Silicon Valley’s Grip on the Trump Orbit

Spiers says a cluster of influential tech figures now plays an outsized role in shaping Trump’s agenda.

Among them are Elon Musk, who launched the administration’s Department of Government Efficiency; Mark Zuckerberg, a frequent White House visitor; Jeff Bezos; Peter Thiel; venture capitalist Marc Andreessen; and tech entrepreneur David Sacks.

Spiers argues their worldview reflects a deep confidence that technology entrepreneurs have “mastered everything” — leaving little need for traditional scholarship or intellectual debate.

An Elite Strain of Anti-Intellectualism

The critique echoes warnings from historian Richard Hofstadter about anti-intellectual currents in US culture.

But Spiers says today’s version is different: rather than rising from populist resentment, it now flows from elite technology circles themselves.

She points to campaigns by figures such as Thiel against traditional university education, as well as Silicon Valley’s growing reliance on artificial intelligence tools that promise to summarise or replace deep analysis.

Thinking Outsourced to Algorithms

Critics say the result is a political culture that increasingly outsources thinking to technology.

Spiers cites research from the MIT Media Lab suggesting heavy users of large language models can show declining performance in cognitive and behavioural tasks.

In her assessment, the dynamic has created an echo chamber where powerful figures surround themselves with advisers and peers who rarely challenge their assumptions.

Even Trump Allies Sound the Alarm

Concern about Silicon Valley’s influence has surfaced inside the president’s own political camp.

Former White House strategist Steve Bannon has warned that technology billionaires are steering the administration toward what he calls a “technocratic oligarchy”.

The clash highlights a deeper struggle shaping the modern American right — between populist politics and the growing power of Silicon Valley’s billionaire class.

Trump's 'cringy' White House is 'effectively lobotomized': media expert

I'd add Tim Cook of Apple to that list. He gave my money for the inauguration and got a prominent seat, a solid gold 'souvenir' for dinner at the Trump House and donation for the ball room which will never happen. I'm not buying new Apple anything until he's gone.