Quibi CEO, former Hewlett-Packard CEO, and Huntington native Meg Whitman made waves Monday when she was among several Republicans to endorse Joe Biden for president at the Democratic National Convention.
Although her speech was short, Whitman made it clear that she supports the former vice president, who is slated to accept the Democratic nomination Thursday in his bid to unseat President Donald Trump, who’s seeking a second term on the Republican line in the November elections.
“I’m a longtime Republican and a longtime CEO, and let me tell you, Donald Trump has no clue how to run a business, let alone an economy,” said Whitman during her speech at the convention, which is being held virtually this week due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Three other members of the GOP who also spoke Monday at the DNC were former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, and former U.S. Rep. Susan Molinari (R-Staten Island).
Whitman’s speech aired during a segment of the convention titled “We the People Putting Country Over Party.” It was not her first time putting political affiliation aside in favor of candidate loyalty. In the 2016 presidential election, Whitman ardently supported Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Although Whitman is a well-known Republican fundraiser, she has publicly denounced Trump, calling him “a dishonest demagogue” during his initial run for presidency in 2016.
While Whitman ran for governor of California in 2010, when she lost to Jerry Brown, most of her political background comes from her financial and vocal endorsements of candidates.
“Joe Biden…has a plan that will strengthen our economy for working people and small business owners,” said Whitman, who’s also the former CEO of e-Bay.
Interestingly enough, Whitman’s appearance at the DNC as a longtime member of the Republican party was not the most newsworthy aspect of her segment. Instead, social media buzz spawned from a titular mix-up.
The DNC initially labeled Whitman as former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, a noteworthy move considering Whitman had not served in the position since 2015. Many wondered if this decision was made because Whitman’s former position held more name recognition than her current one.
Quibi, a show-streaming service designed for smartphones with short, original programs, has not exactly taken off as planned. The company did not meet their viewership target, and has struggled to gain users. The app was looking to target bored consumers meandering through the day-to-day, such as subway riders, gym-goers, and frequent restaurant customers. With strict COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, much of Quibi’s target consumer-base has seen a drastic change in their day-to-day, lessening their need for the service.
Quibi commented on the title mix-up, saying it was mere oversight on the part of the DNC, who quickly updated Whitman’s position. Title aside, Whitman nonetheless made sure to get her message across.
“For me, the choice is simple,” said Whitman. “I’m with Joe.”
Watch the video of her 30-second endorsement speech below:
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