Meta Platforms has promoted Joel Kaplan to chief global affairs officer, succeeding Nick Clegg. The leadership change comes ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration as Meta seeks to mend ties with the leader, who has criticized its political content policies and threatened CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
Kaplan, previously reporting to Clegg, joined Meta in 2011 after serving as deputy chief of staff for policy under former President George W. Bush. Known for advocating political neutrality, Kaplan has faced accusations of favoring conservative agendas, which Meta denies. Clegg, who joined Meta in 2018, announced his departure in a social media post, praising Kaplan as the “right person for the right time.”
Kevin Martin, another Meta executive with Republican ties, will take over Kaplan’s former role in global policy. Kaplan called the leadership change “bittersweet” in a comment on Clegg’s post.
Under Clegg’s tenure, Meta tackled issues like content moderation and election policies, establishing its independent oversight board. Despite these efforts, internal tensions arose, including backlash over Kaplan’s attendance at a 2018 Senate hearing for Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
The shake-up reflects Meta’s broader strategy to repair its relationship with Trump after his November election win. In December, Meta donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund, a break from previous practices. Zuckerberg has also expressed regret over past decisions unpopular with conservatives and praised Trump’s response to an assassination attempt.
Meta had banned Trump from its platforms following the January 6 Capitol riot but appears to be reducing friction with the incoming administration, aiming to balance political pressures as societal expectations for technology evolve.
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