Tech moguls Sam Altman, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos have each pledged $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration fund, signaling a shift in their relationship with the incoming administration. Altman, CEO of OpenAI, confirmed his personal donation, while Meta (formerly Facebook) and Amazon also contributed similar amounts.
This move marks an effort to smooth over previous tensions between some Silicon Valley leaders and Trump. For instance, Zuckerberg had banned Trump from Facebook, yet the two were seen dining together at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in late November, months after Trump had threatened Zuckerberg over accusations of election interference.
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In addition to their financial contributions, Amazon has confirmed that it will stream Trump’s inauguration on its Prime Video platform, which marks a shift from its previous political donations, including contributions to both Biden’s 2021 and Trump’s 2017 inaugurations.
Altman expressed enthusiasm for Trump’s leadership, especially in advancing artificial intelligence (AI), saying he was eager to support Trump’s efforts to keep America ahead in the tech race. Historian Margaret O’Mara from the University of Washington suggests the donations reflect a new approach from Silicon Valley executives, aiming for strategic support rather than vocal opposition.
These pledges also reflect the tech industry’s desire to improve its relationship with Trump, whose first term saw conflicts, particularly with Bezos over media coverage, and with tech companies over regulations. Many in Silicon Valley are hopeful that Trump’s administration will loosen regulations in areas such as AI and cryptocurrency, which are key sectors for companies like OpenAI and Meta.
Musk’s role as an adviser to Trump is also seen as a potential way for tech leaders to influence the administration’s stance on technology-related policies. Despite past conflicts, Altman, Zuckerberg, and Bezos are looking to foster a more supportive relationship with the Trump administration, hoping for an environment that facilitates tech growth and avoids stringent regulatory actions.
