Meta donates $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund in the latest step to mend relationship.
Meta has confirmed a $1 million donation to President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural fund, marking a significant shift in the tech giant’s relationship with the controversial leader. The contribution, first reported by The Wall Street Journal and confirmed by CNN, comes two weeks after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg met privately with Trump at Mar-a-Lago.
The move reflects a stark departure from Meta’s previous stance, which included banning Trump from its platforms following the January 6, 2021, insurrection. The donation has fueled speculation about Zuckerberg’s intentions to influence tech policy under the upcoming administration. Sources indicate Zuckerberg is seeking a more active role in shaping the government’s approach to technology, an ambition that aligns with his recent efforts to rebuild ties with the former president.
Over the past year, Zuckerberg has shown a noticeable shift in tone regarding Trump. In a summer interview with The Circuit podcast, the Facebook founder described Trump’s reaction to a July assassination attempt as badass. Seeing Donald Trump get up after getting shot in the face and pump his fist in the air with the American flag is one of the most badass things I’ve ever seen in my life, Zuckerberg said during the conversation at Meta’s Menlo Park headquarters.
This warming relationship is not limited to Meta. Executives from leading tech companies, including Apple’s Tim Cook, Google’s Sundar Pichai, and Amazon’s Andy Jassy, have sought private meetings with Trump in recent months. These overtures occurred in the lead-up to November’s tightly contested election, as industry leaders appeared eager to secure a dialogue with the then-presidential candidate.
For his part, Trump seems to relish the newfound camaraderie with Silicon Valley figures, often boasting about his private discussions with them. The shift is striking given Trump’s previous rhetoric. As recently as March, he labeled Facebook an enemy of the people during an interview with CNBC, which caused Meta’s shares to drop over 4% that day. Trump has also threatened to target election fraudsters, a term he appeared to direct at Zuckerberg in a July post on his Truth Social platform.
The donation underscores a significant recalibration in the relationship between Trump and major tech companies. As Trump prepares to take office, the dynamic between his administration and Silicon Valley will be closely watched, with significant implications for technology policy and regulation.
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