Staff Reports
Big Tech is stumbling over itself to cozy up to President-elect Donald Trump, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the tech titans have had a change of heart. Contrary to the insipid notion that they’ve grown fond of Trump, these executives are merely trying to save their own skins while keeping their corporate coffers full. As reported by National Public Radio, a number of Big Tech magnates, including Sam Altman, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos, are not-so-subtly aligning themselves with Trump by funneling hefty donations into his inauguration fund—each pledging $1 million as if it’s an exclusive party favor.
The tech elites’ recent attempts at cordial relations appear to be driven less by admiration for Trump and more by self-preservation. According to Silicon Valley historian Margaret O’Mara, it’s more about the tech firms recognizing they have little to gain from outright opposition, while simultaneously hoping that a friendly face can score them a favor or two down the road. The transparent flip-flopping of Zuckerberg and Bezos is especially amusing, given their rollercoaster history with the former and future president, which reads like a romantic comedy gone wrong. Just a short time back, they were trimming Trump from their platforms like a rogue weed in a flowerbed.
Trump’s infamous Facebook ban after the January 6 debacle didn’t help their already strained relationship, but election day didn’t bring the magical transformation they likely anticipated. Reports surfaced showing that before the election, these tech moguls were prepped for a Trump win. Just think—Zuckerberg once dubbed Trump’s reaction following an incident in Butler, Pennsylvania, as “one of the most bada** things I’ve ever seen.” Now the same man is trying to cozy up to Trump in a bid to wash away past sins, leaving many observers skeptical about the sincerity of such gestures.
Interestingly, these changes in behavior come in light of the public’s increasing awareness of the collusion between Big Tech and entities like the FBI, particularly how Facebook suppressed reports about Hunter Biden’s laptop leading up to the 2020 election. The notion that a couple of $1 million checks can absolve these corporations of their dubious past actions is ironic at best and downright laughable at worst. It seems the tech industry has suddenly remembered how to self-regulate—no doubt with the hope that the pesky regulatory threats hovering overhead will vanish back into the shadows.
Zuckerberg, Bezos Among Tech Giants Kowtowing to Trump, But Don't Be Fooled by Their Friendly Gestures via @WestJournalism https://t.co/sxv6GKz2St
Big Tech is trying to keep the government out of their businesses. This will all change when a liberal government is elected.— Joe Long (@JoeLong620) December 16, 2024
While Elon Musk’s dance with Trump is more nuanced, it offers a stark contrast to the opportunistic overtures from Zuckerberg and Bezos. Musk’s gradual pivot from the Democratic stalwarts to endorsing Trump mirrors a realignment grounded in conviction rather than regulation-driven opportunism. With Musk’s net worth soaring over $400 billion, it would be naive to suggest he’s completely devoid of financial motives, but at least his evolution doesn’t reek of desperation. Unlike Zuckerberg and Bezos, Musk doesn’t appear to be merely reading the political winds; he seems to have committed to a cause—a rarity in the land of Big Tech charlatans.
In this play for favor, Bezos and Zuckerberg might think they can dance their way back into Trump’s good graces—all while trying to ignore the complex consequences of their past behaviors. Their insincerity not only underscores their self-serving motivations but also highlights a key political lesson: in the realm of business and politics, loyalty often tilts in favor of the highest bidder or the most advantageous wind direction.
