Zuckerberg backs Trump? Why Meta donated $1 million to US president-elect’s inaugural fund

Meta, the tech giant led by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, revealed on Wednesday that it has donated $1 million to US President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural fund. The contribution, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, marks another step in Zuckerberg's efforts to foster goodwill with the incoming administration.
The company offered no explanation for the donation, but it follows a recent meeting between Zuckerberg and Trump at Mar-a-Lago, where the two exchanged pleasantries. According to sources, Zuckerberg congratulated Trump on his election victory and also shared a meal with Sen. Marco Rubio, Trump’s pick for secretary of state.
“Mark was grateful for the invitation to join President Trump for dinner,” a Meta spokesperson said, adding little else about the donation.
Trump’s inaugural committee, which offers high-level benefits to donors contributing $1 million or more, has become a magnet for businesses seeking to curry favor with the administration. Contributions to inaugural committees are not subject to campaign finance limits, making them a strategic avenue for corporations.
Zuckerberg’s complicated history with Trump
The donation is part of a broader shift in Zuckerberg’s approach toward Trump. While the two men have had a strained relationship—fueled by Trump’s accusations that Meta (then Facebook) censored conservative voices—Zuckerberg has been working to repair ties.
In the past year, Zuckerberg had at least two private phone calls with Trump, including one in which he expressed support after an assassination attempt during a rally in Pennsylvania. “Trump looked like a badass,” Zuckerberg reportedly remarked, referring to Trump’s fist-pumping response after the incident.
Meta’s relationship with Trump reached its lowest point following the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021, when Trump was banned from Meta platforms. Although his accounts have since been reinstated, tensions linger, with Trump previously calling for Zuckerberg to be jailed over alleged interference during the 2020 election.
Tech giants and political outreach
Zuckerberg is not alone in courting Trump. Other Silicon Valley leaders, including Apple’s Tim Cook and Google’s Sundar Pichai, have also sought to build bridges with the president-elect. These efforts often involve a mix of flattery and strategic alignment to safeguard their companies’ interests in a rapidly changing regulatory environment.
In a letter to Congress this past August, Zuckerberg expressed regret over Meta’s previous political activities, including contributions to electoral efforts during the 2020 election. He also revealed that the Biden administration had pressured Meta into censoring Covid-19 content, adding that the experience shaped his decision to step back from overt political involvement.
Meta’s donation to Trump’s inaugural fund highlights the company’s pivot toward a more neutral stance, even as it navigates its complex history with the president-elect. Whether this strategy will pay off remains to be seen.