Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta has made a surprising $1 million donation to President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural fund. The move follows years of strained relations between the tech mogul and Trump, including Meta’s decision to ban Trump from its platforms after the Jan. 6 protests — a ban that was only recently lifted. Now, with Meta reversing course, questions swirl about Zuckerberg’s true intentions.
The timing of the donation is particularly striking. Just weeks before the announcement, Zuckerberg attended a private dinner with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, signaling an unexpected thaw in their relationship. Sources familiar with the donation revealed that discussions with Trump’s team preceded the dinner, with Zuckerberg expressing optimism about Trump’s leadership during conversations with other business leaders.
Stephen Miller, who will serve as deputy chief of staff in Trump’s second term, confirmed Zuckerberg’s support, stating that the Meta CEO is committed to “the national renewal of America under Trump’s leadership.” This newfound alliance stands in stark contrast to their contentious past, especially given Trump’s criticisms of Zuckerberg’s alleged election interference and Meta’s history of censorship.
The donation comes as Trump prepares to enact sweeping changes to rein in what he has called a wasteful and abusive federal government. Part of those plans includes closer ties with Elon Musk, the owner of X (formerly Twitter), who has already signaled his commitment to supporting Trump’s vision for government reform. As Musk positions himself as a key player in the administration’s efforts to tackle Big Tech collusion, censorship, and cronyism, Zuckerberg may be seeking to protect Meta’s standing in this new political landscape.
Adding to the intrigue is Zuckerberg’s recent disclosure to Congress that the Biden administration pressured Meta to censor COVID-related content. This revelation has only deepened skepticism about Big Tech’s role in shaping public discourse.
Zuckerberg’s donation raises critical questions: Is it a genuine shift in political alignment, or is it a calculated move to maintain Meta’s influence under a Trump administration poised to challenge Silicon Valley’s power? As the tech world braces for changes, one thing is certain — Meta’s actions will remain under the spotlight.
