Meta donates $1m to Trump’s inaugural fund

• Published On: 12 December 2024 at 19:50

Meta Platforms Inc. donated $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump's inaugural fund in an effort to rebuild a positive relationship with the administration following a period of tension.

The donation, while modest, is noteworthy because Meta did not make similar contributions to President Joe Biden or during Trump's previous term. It follows Trump and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's November dinner at Mar-a-Lago. A Meta spokesperson confirmed the donation, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, but declined to comment further.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, was a key platform for Trump during his first term, but his accounts were suspended following the riot in the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Meta banned his accounts out of concern that his actions, which challenged Biden's election victory, would incite further violence.

Trump's accounts were reinstated in 2023, but he continued to criticize Zuckerberg, alleging unfair treatment.

In March, Trump labeled Meta a "enemy of the people" and later suggested that Zuckerberg be imprisoned for alleged election interference.

However, Zuckerberg has since made a more public appeal to Trump, calling his reaction to a near-assassination attempt "badass."

He also called the President-elect this summer to apologize for incorrectly applying a fact-check to photos of Trump.

Zuckerberg is one of several powerful tech executives and venture capitalists who, after previously criticizing Trump, have worked to strengthen their ties with him as he returns to the White House.