Meta, the parent company of Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, confirmed on Thursday that it has donated $1 million to the inaugural fund of President-elect Donald Trump. The donation, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, highlights the nuanced and often controversial relationship between the tech giant and Trump.
The announcement comes after years of fluctuating interactions between Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Trump. Earlier this year, Trump publicly threatened Zuckerberg with “life in prison” over any perceived misconduct during the presidential election. Despite the tension, the two met for dinner last month at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
While Zuckerberg refrained from endorsing Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris during the campaign, he notably praised Trump’s raised fist after surviving an assassination attempt in July, calling the gesture “one of the most badass things I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Meta’s connection to Trump has been complicated by the platform’s role in disseminating news to millions of users. Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign credited Facebook for its role in reaching voters through digital advertising. However, in 2021, Meta suspended Trump’s accounts following the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, a decision that was later reversed. In recent years, Meta has taken steps to reduce the prominence of political content in users’ feeds.
Trump’s upcoming administration is expected to influence federal policy in key areas for Meta, including artificial intelligence regulation and antitrust enforcement. Notably, during Trump’s first term, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a lawsuit to break up Meta (then Facebook). The case, which had bipartisan support, is ongoing.
Meta board member Marc Andreessen has reportedly been heavily involved in Trump’s transition, spending significant time at Mar-a-Lago. Peter Thiel, a former Meta board member and longtime Trump adviser, is also playing a role in shaping the incoming administration.
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