The $1 million donation from The parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp is part of an effort by the chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, to cozy up with the incoming administration. A close family friend and donor confirmed on Saturday that the donation was made after the chief executive visited Mar-a-Lago last week and dined with Trump, where he congratulated him on his election victory.
According to a source in attendance, during the meeting Zuckerberg was “cordial with Trump, joining him for dinner along with Senator Marco Rubio, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State”. Of Zuckerberg, the Meta spokesperson said: “He was grateful for the invitation to join President Trump for dinner.
The donation, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, reflects a broader trend of businesses donating to inaugural funds-which are unfettered by donation limits to curry favor with a new administration. Trump’s inaugural committee promised exclusive benefits for donors who contributed $1 million or more.
The move by Zuckerberg comes as the history of tensions between Trump and Meta continues. Trump had earlier accused the company of silencing conservative voices on its platforms, and Meta had banned him after the January 6 riots in the Capitol for violating its policies. Trump’s accounts were reinstated earlier this year.
But despite those past conflicts, Zuckerberg has sought to mend relations with Trump in recent times. This summer, the two reportedly had at least two phone conversations, where Zuckerberg offered support after a supporter tried to assassinate Trump at a Pennsylvania rally.
Zuckerberg’s political activities have come under scrutiny in recent years. In 2021, he accused the Biden administration of pressuring Meta to censor Covid-19 content. In an August letter to Congress, he said he regretted past political donations that he maintained undermined perceptions of Meta’s neutrality.
Like other tech leaders, including Tim Cook and Sundar Pichai, who also seek alignment with Trump, the donation by Meta underlines efforts in the tech industry to navigate the political dynamics that may affect their businesses.
Trump has welcomed this donation and other overtures as signs of cooperation, while critics question the motives and consequences of such donations.
