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Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia, who served as chairman of the refugee and disaster relief non-profit Airbnb.org since its inception, has decided to exit Airbnb.org.
The move happens one month after Airbnb publicly distanced itself from the personal views of Gebbia, who is working with President Trump’s DOGE, and has spoken out against aid to refugees and “illegal aliens.”
“After more than six years as Airbnb.org’s board chair, Joe has decided to step off of the board,” Airbnb told Skift in a statement Friday evening.
Skift reached out to Airbnb after seeing that Airbnb.org was no longer mentioned as part of Gebbia’s LinkedIn profile. Airbnb did not provide further details.
Gebbia, an outspoken Trump supporter who has been helping DOGE redesign a retirement system for federal workers, has stirred discontent among some Airbnb hosts and guests for his activities and statements. He’s a director of DOGE leader Elon Musk’s Tesla, and remains a member of Airbnb’s board, as well.
Gebbia has chaired Airbnb.org, which has provided relief and free stays to everything from Ukrainian refugees to victims of California wildfires, since its inception.
Airbnb.org Aids Refugees and Disaster Victims
In its latest Form 990 filing as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization in November 2024, Airbnb.org noted: “Providing free, welcoming stays with the comforts of home for refugees, asylum seekers, and other newcomers was a founding pillar of Airbnb.org. In 2023, Airbnb.org established a new initiative to fund and facilitate free temporary housing for refugees and asylum seekers resettling in the U.S.”
Airbnb.org added: “This platform directly connected refugees and asylum seekers with hosts who provide free and discounted stays and build connections within communities.”
Yet Gebbia has reposted and posted many statements on X critical of refugees and asylum seekers in the U.S. and abroad.
For example, Gebbia reposted Vice President J.D. Vance’s post on X on April 1: “Joe Biden sanctioned an invasion of the United States. We have approximately 20 million illegal aliens in this country. Their victims are measured in longer wait times for hospitals, overwhelmed schools, and murder victims the media largely ignored.”The media has determined…”
Joe Biden sanctioned an invasion of the United States. We have approximately 20 million illegal aliens in this country. Their victims are measured in longer wait times for hospitals, overwhelmed schools, and murder victims the media largely ignored.
The media has deteremined…
— JD Vance (@JDVance) April 1, 2025
Given his anti-refugee statements, Gebbia’s presence as chairman of Airbnb.org or even as a director of Airbnb.org became untenable.
In 2023, Airbnb.org handed out 22 grants and other aid to domestic organizations and domestic governments, according to its tax filing. A dozen of those grants went to refugee assistance organizations, nine went to disaster relief groups, and one recipient aids both refugees and disaster victims.
Gebbia remains on the board of Airbnb. Airbnb.org receives assistance and support from Airbnb, although the two entities are separate.
Gebbia and fellow Airbnb co-founders Brian Chesky and Nathan Blecharczyk have a voting majority on the Airbnb board. They have a nominating and voting rights agreement that gives them control of the board.
