Overview

• In a newly released podcast interview, the Airbnb co-founder said he could not support a party he believes favors an open border that "lets in criminals and dangerous people."
• He said the border issue first drew his focus in early to mid‑2021, after which he consulted Democratic contacts before Jared Kushner connected him with experts on immigration enforcement.
• Gebbia credited Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his Make America Healthy Again message as influences during his political transition.
• He joined Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency in February to help digitize the paper-based federal retirement process, then was appointed in August as the nation’s first chief design officer to lead the National Design Studio under America by Design.
• He said he received "hate mail text messages" and described the initial reaction to his DOGE work as depressing but emphasized his commitment to improving government digital services.