Tech leaders are trying to smooth things over with President-elect Donald Trump by making significant donations following his return to the White House.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, is set to donate $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund, joining other tech billionaires aiming to improve ties with the incoming administration. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has also confirmed a $1 million donation to the same fund. While Amazon hasn’t commented, reports suggest it’s planning a similar donation.
Historically, tech companies have contributed to presidential inaugurations, but these donations are particularly notable as Trump and Republicans work on reshaping policies affecting social media, electric vehicles, and artificial intelligence. Trump has previously accused major tech companies like Meta and Google of censoring conservative voices, a claim they have denied. The relationship between tech companies and Republicans has been tense, especially after social media platforms suspended Trump’s accounts following the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021.
During Trump’s first term, tech executives from companies such as Google, Facebook, and Apple clashed with his administration over immigration bans on certain Muslim-majority countries.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, who supports Trump, and other major tech companies have not yet commented on the situation.
### OpenAI
Sam Altman of OpenAI stated he’s eager to support Trump’s efforts to lead the country into the AI era, ensuring America remains a frontrunner. While AI development faces regulatory scrutiny, especially concerning national security and job impacts, the tech industry is concerned about regulation slowing down innovation. Trump intends to reverse President Biden’s executive order on AI and is expected to prioritize AI innovation.
Altman has had disagreements with Musk, who supports Trump and has invested heavily in his 2024 campaign, particularly over AI safety concerns. Musk, an early OpenAI investor, has criticized the company for prioritizing profits over public welfare. OpenAI is reportedly considering restructuring as a for-profit benefit corporation.
At a recent summit, Altman expressed confidence in Musk’s integrity, emphasizing that using political power to harm competitors would be un-American.
### Meta
Meta, for the first time, has donated to a presidential inaugural fund, having previously supported both parties’ convention committees. Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, requested the $1 million donation to Trump’s fund. Although Zuckerberg expressed concerns about Trump’s immigration policies during his first term, he has been working on building a rapport with Trump, including meeting him at Mar-a-Lago and gifting him Meta’s smart glasses.
Trump’s campaign is considering proposals that could impact online platforms, aiming to limit their ability to restrict free speech.
### Amazon
Jeff Bezos of Amazon is also reaching out to Trump, planning a meeting at Mar-a-Lago. While Amazon previously donated around $58,000 to Trump’s 2017 inauguration, it reportedly wasn’t allowed to contribute to Biden’s 2021 inauguration.
Trump has previously criticized Amazon, accusing it of using the Washington Post as a lobbyist and alleging a “post office scam.” However, Bezos’ companies like Amazon Web Services and Blue Origin, which have government contracts, could potentially benefit from Trump’s policies. At a recent summit, Bezos expressed optimism about the new administration’s focus on reducing regulations and indicated his willingness to assist in those efforts.
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