Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has contributed $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration fund. This move signals an effort by Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, to build a stronger relationship with the incoming president. The company confirmed the donation on Wednesday to various media outlets, including CBS and the Wall Street Journal.
Zuckerberg met with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in November, aiming to mend relations between Trump and Meta. The relationship had been strained after the 2020 election. Trump had previously criticized Zuckerberg and Facebook, calling the platform “anti-Trump” in 2017.
Unlike with President Joe Biden’s 2020 inaugural fund or Trump’s 2016 fund, Meta did not make similar donations. Inauguration funds support events and activities for a new president’s swearing-in, though critics argue such contributions aim to curry favor with new administrations.
Trump & Zuckerberg’s Fractious Relationship
Trump and Zuckerberg’s relationship has been historically tense. Facebook and Instagram suspended Trump’s accounts in 2021, citing his praise for Capitol rioters on January 6. This decision prompted Trump to label Facebook an “enemy of the people” in March.
Trump accused Meta of supporting TikTok’s forced sale, suggesting it would benefit Facebook. Zuckerberg later told Republican lawmakers he regretted bowing to Biden administration pressure to “censor” content on Facebook and Instagram during the pandemic.
In a September book, Trump claimed Zuckerberg would “spend the rest of his life in prison” if he tried to influence the 2024 election. However, Trump’s tone shifted in October when he praised Zuckerberg on a podcast for “staying out of the election” and thanked him for a supportive call following an assassination attempt.
Despite these developments, Trump’s relationship with Zuckerberg remains cooler than his ties with Elon Musk. The Tesla and X owner, often dubbed Trump’s “First Buddy,” has made substantial contributions to Trump’s campaign. This support earned Musk a position leading the new Department of Government Efficiency (Doge). Rumors of a cage fight between Musk and Zuckerberg have since fizzled out.
