- Meta donates to Trump's inaugural fund
- Historically, the two were not friendly
- It has been a rocky road, but this election might change things up
Meta donates to Trump's inaugural fund
Meta courts a favor for Trump's second term. The technology giant did not contribute to Trump's first inaugural ceremony in 2017 or Joe Biden's inauguration in 2021, breaking a company policy that was in place for at least 10 years[1].
This move comes after events that show Mark Zuckerberg eager to court favor with Trump when his second term is coming up. The president-elect and meta CEO and Chairman have previously been on more friendly terms.
A few weeks ago Zuckerberg visited Trump at his resort in Mar-a-Lago and showed that their frosty relationship is not so icy anymore. During the dinner, two men exchanged pleasantries, and Zuckerberg even congratulated Trump on winning the presidency.
Trump has already partnered with another leading technology and social media figure, X owner Elon Musk. X was one of the platforms that Trump was allowed to post on. Meta banned him from the platform in 2021 for praising violence at the Capitol.
D. Trump is no stranger to attacking M. Zuckerberg. He blasted the tech mogul during his presidential campaign. This donation might mend the relationship further. Meta confirmed these reports, but there are no details on why the donation was made[2].
Historically, the two were not friendly
In the past, Donald Trump and Mark Zuckerberg didn’t have a friendly relationship. Trump was banned from Meta's Facebook and Instagram after the Capitol riots, and later, he threatened to jail Zuckerberg if he meddled in the 2024 presidential election[3].
This happened after Zuckerberg admitted that Meta had cooperated with the Biden administration’s efforts to control COVID-19 misinformation. At the time, Zuckerberg said, "I feel strongly that we should not compromise our content standards due to pressure from any administration in either direction."
But things seem to be changing, and Meta's involvement with the donation clearly shows that it is happening. Recently, Zuckerberg had dinner with Trump at his mansion in Florida.
A Meta spokesperson said, "Mark was grateful for the invitation to join President Trump for dinner and the opportunity to meet with his team members about the incoming administration." The spokesperson also noted that it’s an "important time for the future of American innovation."
Before the 2020 election, Facebook limited the reach of a New York Post story about Hunter Biden. Then, after the January 6 attack on the Capitol, Meta banned Trump from its platforms. Despite this, Trump said in October that his relationship with Zuckerberg had "improved," partly because he believed Zuckerberg was staying out of the 2024 election.
It has been a rocky road, but this election might change things up
Since Trump’s recent election victory, Zuckerberg has tried to get on better terms with him. In November, he met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago[4]. After the meeting, Trump adviser Stephen Miller said Zuckerberg "made clear that he wants to support the national renewal of America under Trump’s leadership."
These new friendships with Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg could shift the political landscape and even media perception. D. Trump might get more control over social media platforms and their narratives. He might gain easier access to Twitter via Musk and Meta via Zuckerberg.
Trump-related content has been censored, so this dynamic might change soon. His return to these social media platforms could help the president-elect gain direct access to millions of followers and give him a powerful tool for spreading the political message.
Also, big technology companies have been more aligned with liberal causes, so these ties with Trump might challenge perceptions or even policies. WitMusk and Zuckerberg interested in AI and other technologies, Trump might be pushed to adopt policies that benefit these industries.
Technology regulation changes, tax breaks, and AI development innovations might occur during the second Trump presidency. Trump's relationships, his new cabinet, and his administration raise many questions and trigger discussions. Only time will tell what changes this new president will bring to the world.
