Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta Platforms has reportedly contributed $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural committee, according to the Wall Street Journal, signaling a significant shift in the CEO’s approach to the incoming administration.
The donation, confirmed by the company, comes after Trump previously warned against election interference by the tech executive.
Zuckerberg’s efforts to rebuild ties with Trump included a November dinner at Mar-a-Lago and meetings between Meta executives and senior Trump advisers. At the dinner, Zuckerberg gifted Trump a pair of Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses. While Meta had not donated to Trump’s inaugural fund in 2017 or Biden’s in 2021, this new contribution reflects changing dynamics as Republicans prepare to regulate Big Tech.
The relationship between Zuckerberg and Trump has fluctuated over the years. Despite initial clashes, including Facebook’s suspension of Trump after the January 6 Capitol riot, the two have recently shown mutual praise. In July, Zuckerberg lauded Trump’s response to an assassination attempt, calling it “badass,” while Trump later expressed optimism about Zuckerberg’s neutrality in the upcoming election.
Privately, Zuckerberg has grown critical of Democrats, accusing the Biden administration of censorship efforts and pledging neutrality in future elections. His relationship with Trump comes as Big Tech faces intensified scrutiny, with Trump nominating Andrew Ferguson to the Federal Trade Commission to address what he calls Big Tech’s vendetta against competition and free speech.
Meanwhile, Zuckerberg’s ongoing rivalry with Elon Musk, one of Trump’s top advisers and financial backers, continues to add tension to the tech industry’s evolving ties with the administration.
