Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has made a significant donation of $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural fund, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the social media giant to CBS News on Wednesday night. This news was initially reported by the Wall Street Journal.
The decision to make this donation comes on the heels of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s visit to Florida, where he had a meal with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate. Following this meeting, Trump advisor Stephen Miller appeared on Fox News to share that Zuckerberg had expressed his desire to support the national renewal of America under Trump’s leadership.
It’s worth noting that Trump had been removed from Facebook after the events of January 6, 2021, when the platform determined that his posts could have incited the violence that occurred on that day at the U.S. Capitol. However, in early 2023, the company reinstated his account with certain restrictions in place. These restrictions were later lifted by Meta in July of the same year.
With a combined following of 65 million followers on Facebook and Instagram, Trump’s presence on these platforms is significant. In a move that raised eyebrows, Zuckerberg submitted a letter to Congress in August, alleging that the Biden administration had pressured Meta to censor certain COVID-19 content, including humor and satire, in 2021. Zuckerberg criticized this government pressure and vowed to resist any similar attempts in the future.
The tech industry in Silicon Valley has been wary of how it might fare under a potential second Trump administration, and this donation could be seen as an effort by Zuckerberg to mend any strained relationships. Trump’s selection of Brendan Carr, a vocal critic of big tech, to lead the Federal Communications Commission has only added to concerns within the industry.
CBS News has reached out to the Trump transition team for their response to this donation.
In conclusion, the donation from Meta to Trump’s inaugural fund highlights the complex relationship between big tech companies and political figures. As debates around censorship, government pressure, and corporate influence continue to evolve, the actions and statements of key players like Zuckerberg and Trump will undoubtedly shape the future of this dynamic intersection of technology and politics.
