Shaun Maguire, a partner at Silicon Valley venture capital firm Sequoia Capital, has sparked controversy with his remarks targeting New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. Maguire described Mamdani as coming from a "culture that lies about everything" and accused him of pursuing an "Islamist agenda," comments that have been widely condemned as anti-Muslim and Islamophobic. The backlash has prompted over 600 startup founders, venture capitalists, and entrepreneurs from regions including Silicon Valley and the Gulf to sign an open letter urging Sequoia Capital to take action and denounce Maguire's rhetoric. Despite the criticism, Maguire has doubled down on his statements, asserting that the backlash only emboldens him. The controversy highlights tensions within Sequoia Capital, as Maguire's right-wing political commentary clashes with the firm's typically quieter corporate culture. The debate has drawn attention from various sectors, including US and Israeli defense startup investors, and has elicited both condemnation and support from different figures in the tech and political communities.