Meta Donates $1 Million to Trump’s Inaugural Fund
Meta, the tech giant led by Mark Zuckerberg, has contributed $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural fund. The donation, first reported by The Wall Street Journal and later confirmed by Meta, comes after Zuckerberg dined with Trump at Mar-a-Lago following the Republican's election victory.
Zuckerberg also reportedly demonstrated Meta’s Ray-Ban Smart Glasses before gifting a pair to the President-elect, a gesture that capped off what appears to be a warming rapport between the two. Trump, who once labeled Meta an "enemy of the people" and hinted at legal action against Zuckerberg over alleged election interference, has been increasingly vocal about his admiration for tech leaders like Zuckerberg.
Meta's donation marks a stark contrast to the company’s stance nearly four years ago when it banned Trump from its platforms after the January 6th Capitol riots. This new alignment comes as Zuckerberg seeks to position himself as an influential voice in shaping the tech policies of the upcoming administration.
The relationship between Zuckerberg and Trump has evolved notably. Just last summer, Zuckerberg referred to Trump’s reaction to a staged assassination attempt in a podcast interview as "one of the most badass things I’ve ever seen in my life.” This public comment hinted at a softening stance, which has now culminated in Meta's sizable financial contribution.
According to sources, Zuckerberg and his team have also engaged with Trump’s senior advisers and his pick for secretary of state, Marco Rubio. These discussions reportedly revolved around topics tied to national renewal, which Trump’s camp has emphasized as a key focus of his administration.
Despite their budding partnership, the history between the two has been fraught. Trump previously criticized Zuckerberg and Meta for their handling of election-related content, even threatening to imprison “election fraudsters” in a July post on his Truth Social platform. The nickname “Zuckerbucks,” a jab at Zuckerberg’s reported involvement in election grants, further highlighted their tensions.
This $1 million pledge for Trump’s inauguration fund, which supports the swearing-in ceremony and related events, represents Meta’s first foray into directly supporting a presidential transition. It’s also a notable departure for Zuckerberg, who had historically avoided aligning with presidential candidates.
The donation adds Meta to the growing list of tech companies seeking to forge stronger ties with Trump, including Apple and Amazon. As Trump prepares to take office, the collaboration signals a potential shift in how Big Tech navigates its relationship with a leader it once openly clashed with.
