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Published on
December 12, 2024
4 min read
Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta Platforms Makes a Surprising $1 Million Trump Inaugural Fund Donation
Facebook and Instagram owner, Meta Platforms, has made a $1 million donation to the US President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural fund. Meta’s inaugural fund donation is part of the efforts by the social media giant to mend its relationship with the Trump administration after a tense first term, the BBC reported.
Deputy Chief of Staff nominee Stephen Miller said Zuckerberg is keen on supporting Trump’s economic plans like other corporate leaders.
Departure from the Norm
Meta platform’s donation is a departure from its past practice or that of its CEO Mark Zuckerberg. In this year’s election, Zuckerberg declined to endorse either Joe Biden or Donald Trump.
Last month, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg dined with Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort soon after winning the elections. Trump has previously criticized Facebook, terming the platform as anti-Trump in 2017. Meta did not make a similar donation to Biden’s inaugural fund in 2020 or Trump’s first inaugural fund in 2016.
According to Federal Election Commission records, Google made a $285,000 donation to Trump’s first inaugural fund and a similar amount to Biden’s fund. Microsoft donated $1 million to Obama’s second inauguration. The big tech donated $500,000 to Biden’s 2021 and Trump’s 2017 inauguration.
Inaugural funds are used to cater for activities and events when a newly elected president assumes office. Some people consider the funds an attempt to spice up relationships with a new administration. Traditionally, corporations constitute the largest share of donors to presidential inaugurations. Inaugural committees are expected to disclose the sources of their funds.
Trump-Meta Feud
Trump used Meta’s Instagram and Facebook platforms heavily during his first term in office. Things worked well until Meta suspended his accounts after the January 6, 2021, US Capitol riots. Meta banned Trump’s accounts for fear that his continued use of the platforms was likely to spur the violence further by denying Biden’s victory.
Meta reinstated Trump’s Instagram and Facebook accounts in 2023. However, Trump continued to accuse Zuckerberg of unfair treatment. In March this year, Trump referred to Meta as the enemy of the people. He later said that Zuckerberg would be sent to jail if he interfered with the 2024 elections.
Trump has also said that a TikTok divest or ban law will benefit Facebook unfairly. Speaking to Republican lawmakers in August, Zuckerberg regretted giving into the Biden administration’s pressure to censor some accounts during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Softening Stand
After the long feud with Zuckerberg and Meta platforms, Donald Trump appears to be softening his position. In October 2024, he said it was nice that Zuckerberg was keeping off the elections. He also appreciated Zuckerberg’s phone call following the assassination attempt. Zuckerberg also called the President-elect this summer to apologize for labeling his photos with fact check by mistake.
The Meta CEO is among the few powerful venture capitalists and tech executives who have been intentional in strengthening their relationship with Trump after criticizing him previously. But even with his efforts, Zuckerberg isn’t as close to Trump as Elon Musk. The X and Tesla owner made extensive donations to the Trump campaign.
