In a significant move, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has donated $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration fund. This donation marks the latest attempt by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to build a closer relationship with the incoming president.
The donation comes just weeks after Zuckerberg met privately with Trump at Mar-a-Lago. A Meta spokesperson confirmed the contribution on Thursday, December 12. Stephen Miller, appointed deputy chief of staff for Trump’s second term, mentioned that Zuckerberg, like other business leaders, aims to support Trump’s economic plans.
Zuckerberg has been working to change Meta’s perception on the right following a tumultuous relationship with Trump. Trump was banned from Facebook after the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, but his account was restored in early 2023. During the 2024 campaign, Zuckerberg did not endorse a presidential candidate but expressed a more positive stance toward Trump.
Earlier this year, Zuckerberg praised Trump’s response to his first assassination attempt. Despite this, Trump continued to publicly criticize Zuckerberg during the campaign. In July, Trump posted a message on Truth Social, threatening to imprison election fraudsters and referencing Zuckerberg with the nickname “ZUCKERBUCKS.”
Corporations have traditionally been significant donors to presidential inaugurals, with some exceptions. For instance, then-President-elect Barack Obama refused corporate donations for his 2009 inaugural but accepted them for his second in 2013. Facebook did not donate to either Biden's 2021 inaugural or Trump’s 2017 inaugural. However, Google donated $285,000 to both Trump’s first inaugural and Biden’s inaugural.
Inaugural committees are required to disclose their fundraising sources but not how they spend the money. Meta’s substantial donation underscores the ongoing efforts by tech giants to navigate the political landscape and foster relationships with key political figures.
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