President-elect Donald Trump’s reelection has prompted a notable shift in Silicon Valley, where Big Tech executives who once opposed him are now seeking to rebuild ties. Leaders from companies like Meta, Amazon, and Apple have met with Trump since the election, signaling a newfound alignment with the incoming administration.
During Trump’s first term, tech giants were outspoken critics of his policies. Google CEO Sundar Pichai and co-founder Sergey Brin protested his immigration policies, and platforms like Facebook and Twitter faced backlash for censoring content that could have benefited Trump during the 2020 election.
Big Tech has never been for Trump and have been tantamount in the coup to take him down. pic.twitter.com/gamitnQKjb
— Juanita Broaddrick (@atensnut) January 11, 2021
The tone shifted after Trump’s reelection, with Pichai, Brin, and Apple CEO Tim Cook all traveling to Mar-a-Lago for meetings with the president-elect. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos followed suit, signaling a broader effort to reset relations.
"Ah, the irony! Big Tech, once the self-proclaimed champions of free speech, now begging and pleading to align with Trump after realizing their 'resistance' was just a one-way ticket to irrelevance. Who knew that censorship and deplatforming would lead t… https://t.co/XMnpgW8G1v
— NahBabyNah #Trump (@NahBabyNah) December 23, 2024
Joel Thayer, a tech lawyer, suggested that the meetings reflect a recognition of Trump’s growing influence. “They’re acknowledging that the population has shifted,” Thayer said, adding that many now view Trump’s policies as beneficial to American workers.
BREAKING: President Trump has filed a MAJOR Class Action Lawsuit against Big Tech and their CEOs pic.twitter.com/Kpdw0LNv1Z
— RSBN 🇺🇸 (@RSBNetwork) July 7, 2021
Biden Administration policies have further strained the tech industry’s relationship with Democrats. Investors like Marc Andreessen have criticized Biden’s regulatory moves, including his oversight of AI and efforts to impose taxes on unrealized gains. Andreessen warned these measures could stifle innovation and harm startups.
TikTok’s uncertain future under a potential ban has also brought its CEO, Shou Zi Chew, into talks with Trump. While Trump initially called for the app’s removal, he recently hinted at reconsidering the issue, citing its popularity among young voters.
