Mark Zuckerberg: Why Meta and Zuckerberg donated $1 million to the US president-elect’s inaugural fund | World News

Meta, the tech giant led by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, revealed on Wednesday that it had donated $1 million to US President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural fund. The contribution, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, marks another step in Zuckerberg’s efforts to foster goodwill with the new administration.
The company provided no explanation for the donation, but it followed a recent meeting between Zuckerberg and Trump at Mar-a-Lago, where the two exchanged pleasantries. According to sources, Zuckerberg congratulated Trump on his election victory and also shared a meal with Senator Marco Rubio, Trump’s pick for secretary of state.
“Mark was grateful for the invitation to join President Trump for dinner,” a Meta spokesperson said, adding little else about the donation.
Trump’s inaugural committee, which offers high-profile perks to donors contributing $1 million or more, has become a magnet for companies seeking to curry favor with the administration. Contributions to inaugural committees are not subject to campaign finance limits, making them a strategic avenue for businesses.
Zuckerberg’s complicated history with Trump
The donation is part of a broader shift in Zuckerberg’s approach to Trump. While the two had a strained relationship – fueled by Trump’s accusations that Meta (then Facebook) had censored conservative voices – Zuckerberg worked to mend ties.
Over the past year, Zuckerberg has had at least two private phone calls with Trump, including one in which he expressed support after an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania. “Trump looked like a badass,” Zuckerberg reportedly remarked, referring to Trump’s forceful response after the incident.
Meta’s relationship with Trump reached its lowest point after the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021, when Trump was banned from Meta platforms. Although his accounts have since been reinstated, tensions persist, with Trump previously calling for Zuckerberg to be jailed for alleged interference in the 2020 election.
Tech Giants and Political Awareness
Zuckerberg is not the only one courting Trump. Other Silicon Valley executives, including Apple’s Tim Cook and Google’s Sundar Pichai, have also sought to build bridges with the president-elect. These efforts often involve a mix of flattery and strategic alignment to protect their companies’ interests in a rapidly changing regulatory environment.
In a letter to Congress last August, Zuckerberg expressed regret over Meta’s past political activities, including his contribution to electoral efforts in the 2020 election. He also revealed that the Biden administration had pressured Meta to that he censors Covid-19 content, adding that this experience shaped his decision to step back from overt political involvement.
Meta’s donation to Trump’s inaugural fund highlights the company’s shift toward a more neutral stance, even as it navigates its complex history with the president-elect. It remains to be seen whether this strategy will pay off.