On Wednesday, former President Donald Trump dined with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg at the Mar-a-Lago club in Florida – a significant meeting between the tech mogul and the ex-president, who had been banned from Facebook. This dinner also came at such a crucial time when Trump is gearing up for his second term, bringing business leaders, many of whom are so eager to support, in the words of Stephen Miller, Trump’s newly named deputy chief of staff.
Miller emphasized that Zuckerberg, like other business leaders, wants to support Trump’s agenda of national renewal. To that end, while Zuckerberg has his own interests, including what’s best for Meta, Miller said the CEO made it clear he wants to support the country’s revival under Trump’s leadership.
Zuckerberg and Trump have had a tumultuous relationship in the past. Facebook suspended Trump’s account after the January 6 Capitol riots, but the company reinstated it earlier in 2023. During the 2024 presidential campaign, Zuckerberg refrained from endorsing any candidate. However, his position has shifted, as seen when he praised Trump’s handling of an assassination attempt earlier this year, calling his response “badass.” Furthermore, Zuckerberg voiced frustration over pressure from Biden administration officials to censor certain content related to COVID-19.
Despite these positive remarks, Trump has continued to attack Zuckerberg publicly. Earlier this year, Trump used the term “ZUCKERBUCKS” on his social media platform, Truth Social, to issue a warning against election fraudsters.
The dinner comes amid growing ties between Trump and other influential figures in the tech industry. Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of the X social network, formerly Twitter, has also become a prominent ally in Trump’s political movement, contributing a substantial amount to Trump’s efforts. Musk, who has frequented Mar-a-Lago since the election, is also leading the “Department of Government Efficiency,” a panel tasked with identifying waste in government, alongside venture capitalist Vivek Ramaswamy.
A meeting between Trump and Zuckerberg could be a possible new chapter in their relationship, discussing potential collaboration in the upcoming presidential race.
