LEFT: Donald Trump (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) RIGHT: Mark Zuckerberg (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg reportedly contributed $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural fund, an overture that underlines the ongoing thaw in the tech magnate’s historically tense relationship with the Republican leader.
The Wall Street Journal reported the revelation, which follows years of political tension and public criticism between the two high-profile figures.
Despite Trump’s prior threats to jail Zuckerberg for allegedly attempting to influence the 2024 election, the Meta founder seems intent on mending fences with the incoming administration. The contribution also places Zuckerberg alongside other tech leaders who are recalibrating their relationships with Trump as he prepares for his second term.
Last month, he dined with Trump at Mar-a-Lago and showcased Meta’s new Ray-Ban smart glasses, even gifting a pair to the president-elect. His policy team, led by Joel Kaplan and Kevin Martin, also met with senior Trump aides, including Susie Wiles and Brian Baker. Additionally, Zuckerberg held discussions with prominent Republican figures, such as Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio and senior advisor Stephen Miller.
In 2017, he criticized Trump’s immigration policies, and relations soured further after Meta’s ban on Trump following the January 6 Capitol riot. Trump’s subsequent accusations of election interference by Zuckerberg, including a $400 million contribution to pandemic election security, further deepened the rift.
However, in an August letter to House Republicans, Zuckerberg expressed regret over censoring COVID-19 misinformation under pressure from the Biden administration. He also commended Trump’s resilience during a July assassination attempt, describing his response as “one of the most badass things I’ve ever seen.”
So far, Trump has reciprocated with Zuckerberg’s approach.
