Mark Zuckerberg donates $1M to Trump months after president-elect warns Meta founder of lifetime jail

Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg's move came after Donald Trump labeled him an election fraudster
UPDATED DEC 13, 2024
Donald Trump previously accused Mark Zuckerberg of influencing the 2020 elections (Getty Images)
Donald Trump previously accused Mark Zuckerberg of influencing the 2020 elections (Getty Images)

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Meta, has donated $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump's inaugural fund, despite a turbulent history between the two.

The surprising political gesture, confirmed by The Wall Street Journal, raises eyebrows as it follows years of contentious exchanges and policy disputes.


SUN VALLEY, IDAHO - JULY 08: CEO of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg walks to lunch following a session at the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference on July 08, 2021 in Sun Valley, Idaho. After a year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the world’s most wealthy and powerful businesspeople from the media, finance, and technology worlds will converge at the Sun Valley Resort for the exclusive week-long conference. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Mark Zuckerberg walks to lunch following a session at the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference in Sun Valley, Idaho (Getty Images)

Mark Zuckerberg's reconciliation attempt with Donald Trump

The donation comes after a November meeting at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club, where Mark Zuckerberg showcased Meta’s latest innovation, Ray-Ban smart glasses, even gifting a pair to Trump.

This meeting marked a two-day effort by Zuckerberg and his advisers to mend their strained relationship, according to Daily Beast.

Their interactions have been inconsistent over the past eight years, including Zuckerberg’s 2019 visit to Trump at the White House, followed by Facebook’s suspension of Trump’s account after the January 6 Capitol riots.

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 19: Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg leaves a meeting with Senato
Mark Zuckerberg leaves a meeting with Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) in his office on Capitol Hill on September 19, 2019 in Washington, DC (Getty Images)

Donald Trump’s threats and Mark Zuckerberg’s strategic moves

Tensions escalated in 2020 when Donald Trump accused Mark Zuckerberg of influencing elections through a $400 million donation aimed at strengthening local election infrastructure during the pandemic.

In 2021, Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, hired GOP strategist Brian Baker to assure Republicans that the funds were non-partisan.

Despite these efforts, Trump remained unconvinced, threatening legal action against Zuckerberg in a Truth Social post in July 2024.

“All I can say is that if I’m elected President, we will pursue Election Fraudsters at levels never seen before, and they will be sent to prison for long periods of time," he wrote at the time.

"We already know who you are. DON’T DO IT! ZUCKERBUCKS, be careful!” he added.



 

Meta’s recent donation contrasts with its abstention from Trump’s 2016 and Joe Biden’s 2021 inaugural funds.

The $1 million contribution pales compared to Elon Musk’s $250 million support for Trump’s reelection campaign but signals a potential thaw in Zuckerberg-Trump relations.

Trump’s softened stance was evident in October when he expressed a renewed liking for Zuckerberg during a podcast interview.

What’s next for Meta and Donald Trump?

Former President Donald Trump listens as his attorney Todd Blanche speaks during a press conference at 40 Wall Street after a pre-trial hearing on March 25, 2024 in New York City. Judge Juan Merchan scheduled Trump's criminal trial to begin on April 15, which would make it the first criminal prosecution of a former American president. Trump was charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records last year, which prosecutors say was an effort to hide a potential sex scandal, both before and after the 2016 election. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Donald Trump listens as his attorney Todd Blanche speaks during a press conference at 40 Wall Street after a pre-trial hearing on March 25, 2024 in New York City (Getty Images)

The $1 million donation secures tickets to several inaugural events between January 17 and 20, featuring Donald Trump, his wife Melania Trump, Vice President-elect JD Vance, and others.

It remains unclear if Zuckerberg or Meta officials will attend these events.

Critics have noted the timing of the donation alongside Meta’s controversial decision to scale back election misinformation monitoring during the 2024 campaign, raising questions about the company’s motives and role in the political landscape.

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