Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has made headlines by donating $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration fund. This donation arrived shortly after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg held a private meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago. A spokesperson for Meta confirmed the contribution on Thursday, following a report by The Wall Street Journal.
Trump’s newly appointed deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, suggested that Zuckerberg, like other business leaders, is eager to back Trump’s economic agenda. This move comes as Zuckerberg aims to improve his company’s image among conservative audiences after experiencing a tumultuous relationship with Trump over the years. Notably, Trump was banned from Facebook after the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots but had his account reinstated in early 2023.
While Zuckerberg has not publicly endorsed a candidate for the upcoming 2024 election, he has recently shown a more favorable attitude towards Trump. Earlier this year, he commended Trump for his handling of an assassination attempt. However, tensions remain; Trump has continued to criticize Zuckerberg, even threatening action against “election fraudsters” on his social media platform, Truth Social.
Historically, corporations have been significant supporters of presidential inaugurations, though there was a notable exception in 2009 when Barack Obama turned down corporate donations for his first inauguration but accepted them for his second. In contrast, Meta did not contribute to the inaugural funds for either Biden in 2021 or Trump in 2017.
Looking forward, this substantial donation from Meta might symbolize a new chapter in the relationship between the tech giant and the Republican party, offering a potential avenue for collaboration on economic initiatives.
Summary: Meta has donated $1 million to Donald Trump’s inauguration fund following a private meeting between Zuckerberg and Trump. This marks a shift in their relationship, as Zuckerberg seeks to foster a more positive image among conservatives. Trump’s criticism of Zuckerberg continues, but the donation reflects a possible alignment with Trump’s economic policies and highlights a trend of corporate support for presidential inaugurations.