Mark Zuckerberg's Meta donates $1M to Trump inauguration fund

Source: Washington Post

Meta donated $1 million to the inauguration committee of President-elect Donald Trump, the company confirmed Thursday. The donation comes weeks after chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, who previously banned Trump from Meta’s social platforms, visited his Mar-a-Lago resort as the tech giant seeks to mend fences with the political right.

Meta spokesman Andy Stone confirmed the donation in an email Thursday morning. He did not provide more information about the donation, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. Meta banned Trump from Facebook and Instagram in 2021, as Zuckerberg accused him of inciting a violent insurrection in the wake of the Jan. 6 Capitol attack by Trump supporters.

Stephen Miller, Trump’s incoming deputy chief of staff, confirmed Trump’s Mar-a-Lago meeting with Zuckerberg in late November in an interview with Fox News. “Mark Zuckerberg has been very clear about his desire to be a supporter of — and a participant in — this change we’re seeing,” Miller said. “He’s made clear that he wants to support the national renewal of America under President Trump’s leadership.” The presidential inauguration committee pays for everything surrounding the swearing-in ceremony — which will take place on Jan. 20 — including the opening ceremony, parade, galas and balls. All donations to it must be disclosed with the Federal Election Commission within 90 days of the inauguration.

Meta’s million-dollar donation comes as the political rhetoric of Zuckerberg — once a prominent supporter of liberal causes who previously said it was too risky to allow Trump to use Facebook — trends rightward. In 2021, Zuckerberg said Trump’s “decision to use his platform to condone rather than condemn the actions of his supporters at the Capitol building has rightly disturbed people in the US and around the world,” explaining the decision to suspend the president’s account. Trump’s access was restored in early 2023.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/12/12/meta-donation-trump-zuckerberg/