Meta Contributes $1 Million to Trump’s Inauguration Fund

Meta, the Silicon Valley tech giant, confirmed on Wednesday that it has contributed $1 million to President-elect Donald J. Trump’s inaugural fund. This donation comes as part of an ongoing effort by Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, to maintain a favorable relationship with Mr. Trump.

The company did not specify the reasons behind the contribution, which follows a recent meeting between Zuckerberg and Trump at Mar-a-Lago, where the two exchanged cordialities and discussed the presidential victory.

The meeting last month also included a dinner with Marco Rubio, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State, witnessed by insiders. A Meta spokesperson highlighted Zuckerberg’s appreciation for the invitation to dine with President Trump, signaling a warming of relations.

The donation was first reported by The Wall Street Journal and is part of a broader trend where businesses and individuals use inaugural donations to gain favorable access to new administrations. Trump’s inaugural committee has promised exclusive benefits for donors at the million-dollar level.

Zuckerberg’s interactions with Trump are part of a larger strategy seen across the tech industry, where leaders, including Apple’s Tim Cook and Google’s Sundar Pichai, have sought to establish direct lines to Trump even before the election.

These relationships are strategically important, as they potentially position their companies advantageously for future policy and regulatory decisions.

However, the relationship between Trump and Meta has seen its ups and downs. Trump has previously accused Meta, which owns platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, of suppressing conservative voices. Following the January 6th Capitol riot, Meta temporarily banned Trump from its platforms, though his accounts were later reinstated.

Despite past tensions, including Trump’s harsh criticism of Zuckerberg and claims of election interference, the relationship appears to be on a mend. This summer, Zuckerberg reportedly expressed his support for Trump following an assassination attempt at a rally, calling him a “badass” in the aftermath.

Moreover, in a recent letter to Congress, Zuckerberg expressed regret over his political activities during the Biden administration, vowing not to repeat the kind of political donations made in 2020 to maintain a neutral stance.