I don't understand why he said this publicly, even if he believes it. It does him and a16z no favors with likely startup founders, foreign governments, foreign

I don't understand why he said this publicly, even if he believes it. It does him and a16z no favors with likely startup founders, foreign governments, foreign corporate partners, the security/privacy community, etc. a16z doesn't need any help with LPs or the US Government. (I think he might be right as a first-order effect for the majority of people, but the second order effects hurt US companies, individuals, etc.)