Nick Clegg, the former politician and Facebook executive, has said that Silicon Valley is filled with arrogant, wealthy, and macho men who see themselves as victims. Clegg, who led the Liberal Democrats, makes this claim in a new book that covers his three careers: as a Member of the European Parliament in Brussels, a Member of Parliament and Deputy Prime Minister in the UK, and as a communications and policy strategist in San Francisco.
In an interview with the Guardian, Clegg praised his former boss, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, but criticized the culture of Silicon Valley, where he said wealth and power are mixed with a sense of self-pity. He remarked, “In Silicon Valley, far from feeling fortunate, people act as if they’re hard done by—like victims. I’ve never understood this unattractive mix of machismo and self-pity.”
Clegg described it as a cultural issue, pointing to examples from Elon Musk’s dramatic antics to typical Silicon Valley podcasts. He added, “When you’re used to privilege, equality can feel like oppression.”
He clarified that his criticism wasn’t aimed at Zuckerberg personally, whom he called thoughtful and endlessly curious about topics outside his expertise.
Clegg left his job in the U.S. in January, before a shift in Silicon Valley’s political climate, as tech billionaires like Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and Tim Cook began aligning themselves with Donald Trump. He has since returned to London.
His new book, How to Save the Internet, offers a behind-the-scenes look at Meta and explores how Silicon Valley’s insular culture has led to missteps. Clegg noted, “Everyone wears the same clothes, drives the same cars, listens to the same podcasts, follows the same trends. It’s a place defined by herd behavior.”
Of the three professional environments he’s been part of, Clegg said he found Westminster the most unbearable, citing its reliance on past glories and overall pomposity.
On his former coalition partner David Cameron, Clegg had little to say but noted he would have disagreed with Cameron’s decision to hold the EU referendum in 2016. The Lib Dems suffered a major defeat in the 2015 general election, leading Clegg to step down as party leader before joining Facebook (now Meta) in 2018.
Clegg believes Britain will rejoin the EU in his lifetime and said he would eagerly return to political activism if that debate reignited—though not in an official role. “I’d drop everything to help, whether stuffing envelopes or manning the barricades,” he said.
While Clegg has no plans to return to politics himself, his wife, Miriam González Durántez, is considering leading a new centrist party in her native Spain. Despite stepping back from British politics, Clegg remains engaged with events in Westminster.
He described Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves as “decent people” but frustratingly cautious, wishing they would take bigger risks instead of settling for incremental changes.There is little appeasement for Trump. I think they will learn, as I did, that you only get one chance at this.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Nick Cleggs comments on affluent men in Silicon Valley designed to be clear and helpful
General Beginner Questions
1 Who is Nick Clegg and why is he commenting on Silicon Valley
Nick Clegg is the former Deputy Prime Minister of the UK He is now the President of Global Affairs for Meta which puts him in a senior position within the heart of Silicon Valley
2 What exactly did Nick Clegg claim
He claimed that many wealthy powerful men in the tech industry have a victim mentality He suggested they feel unfairly criticized and persecuted by society the media and regulators despite their success and influence
3 Why would successful people feel like victims
Clegg suggested its a reaction to increased public scrutiny After years of being celebrated as innovators they now face criticism over issues like privacy misinformation and their immense power which can feel like a personal attack
4 Is he talking about all men in tech
No He specified many not all He was referring to a specific subset of highly affluent and influential men in leadership positions who are reacting to a shifting cultural and regulatory landscape
Advanced Deeper Questions
5 Whats the context behind these comments
The tech industry is under a global microscope Issues like the Cambridge Analytica scandal antitrust lawsuits and concerns about AI ethics have created a much more critical environment than the industry faced a decade ago
6 Is this a common psychological phenomenon
Yes it can be Psychologists sometimes refer to a persecution complex or a defensive reaction where individuals or groups in positions of power perceive themselves as being under attack when their authority or worldview is challenged
7 What are some examples of this victim mentality in action
Examples could include tech leaders framing regulations as an attack on innovation dismissing criticism as cancel culture or publicly complaining that their contributions to society are not being appreciated despite their wealth
8 Whats the impact of this mindset
It can create a defensive culture within companies that resists necessary change and external feedback It can also hinder productive dialogue between the tech industry governments and the public on important issues
9 Isnt Clegg part of this group himself Isnt this hypocritical
This is
