In an attempt to mend his strained relationship with Donald Trump, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg joined the former president for dinner at his Mar-a-Lago estate on Wednesday. A representative for Zuckerberg confirmed the meeting, noting that the tech billionaire expressed gratitude for the invitation and the chance to meet with members of Trump’s team ahead of the new administration. Zuckerberg, who heads Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has faced criticism from Trump supporters, especially after the social media giant banned Trump following the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
Zuckerberg’s dinner with Trump is seen as part of a broader effort to rebuild his ties with the former president. Stephen Miller, an advisor to Trump, told Fox News that Zuckerberg has shown clear support for Trump’s vision of “national renewal.” According to Miller, Zuckerberg has expressed his desire to support the changes happening in America under Trump’s leadership.
Though Zuckerberg was cautious in his approach during Trump’s first term, tech leaders, including Zuckerberg, were quick to congratulate Trump following his election victory. Prior to the election, Zuckerberg stopped his political philanthropy and adjusted Meta’s algorithms to limit political content.
Zuckerberg had previously donated large sums to nonprofits aimed at strengthening U.S. electoral infrastructure during the Covid-19 pandemic, a move that Trump later criticized, alleging that the funds were part of a scheme to influence the election in favor of Joe Biden. It remains unclear whether Elon Musk, another Trump ally, attended the dinner, though he has often been present at Mar-a-Lago post-election.
