Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta (Facebook's parent company), met Donald Trump during a dinner held Wednesday at the former president's Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. The exchange marks a turning point in the relationship between the tech giant and the president-elect, as Zuckerberg appears to be seeking to establish a constructive dialogue with the new administration.
Stephen Miller, the future deputy chief of staff of the president, confirmed this meeting on Fox News, specifying that Mark Zuckerberg had expressed support for Donald Trump's vision of "national renewal." "He made it clear that he wants to be an active participant in this change that we're seeing across the United States," Miller said.
A Meta spokesperson also welcomed the opportunity: "Mark appreciated President Trump's invitation to dinner and the opportunity to engage with members of his team about the upcoming administration."
A strategic evolution for Meta
Since Donald Trump's victory in the November presidential election, several influential figures in Silicon Valley, including Elon Musk, rushed to congratulate him. Zuckerberg, who had been more discreet during Trump's first term, now seems to be adopting a more proactive stance.
The meeting comes as Meta adjusts its strategic priorities. The group has notably reduced the visibility of political content on its platforms and ended some philanthropic initiatives, such as funding organizations that support U.S. electoral infrastructure, which Republicans often criticize as biased.
A complex relationship with Donald Trump
The dinner symbolizes a notable rapprochement after strained relations between Facebook and Donald Trump. In January 2021, the platform was one of the first to ban the former president following the storming of the Capitol. Zuckerberg justified this decision by citing a risk to democracy.
However, this meeting at Mar-a-Lago could mark a new beginning. Zuckerberg appears to be looking to turn the page on past tensions, while Meta is trying to reposition himself in a changing American political landscape.
This rapprochement between tech and the future Trump administration suggests a dynamic where large technology companies, long perceived as critical or distant, are now seeking to play a role in the major political directions of the United States.
