Many top technology leaders are reaching out to Donald Trump after he won the presidential election. They’re visiting him at his Mar-a-Lago estate and donating money to his inauguration event. Trump noted that he feels more popular with these leaders this time, saying, “In this term, everybody wants to be my friend.” So, why are tech CEOs suddenly getting close to Trump?
One big reason is that Congress plans to introduce new rules for social media and technology, like special protections for children online and oversight of artificial intelligence. Companies such as Meta (formerly Facebook), Apple, Amazon, and Alphabet (Google) are also dealing with legal challenges accusing them of unfair business practices.
High-Profile Tech Leaders Making Amends
Among those meeting Trump is Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, who had a rocky relationship with him before. Zuckerberg previously banned Trump from Meta’s platforms but now appears to be shifting his approach. Meta is changing its content review process, moving to a system similar to Musk’s platform X. In the past, Zuckerberg publicly criticized Trump but now says he supports Trump’s economic agenda.
Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, has also dined with Trump recently. Although Cook disagreed with Trump on various issues, he has historically tried to find common ground to protect Apple’s interests.
Jeff Bezos, the boss of Amazon, had previously been critical of Trump. However, after Trump’s election victory, Bezos has expressed optimism about working with him. He even had dinner with Trump and Musk, discussing how they could reduce regulations. Bezos also donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund.
Sam Altman from OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, acknowledged his disputes with Musk but has stated his support for Trump regarding artificial intelligence development.
Trump’s past criticisms have not stopped tech leaders from trying to build a better relationship with him. Executives from Google, including Sundar Pichai and Sergey Brin, have also met with Trump and mentioned the potential for cooperation in the tech sector.
Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang, is keen to meet Trump and offer help for his administration. Huang believes his company can provide insights on important technological matters.
Overall, many tech leaders are trying to create new ties with Trump, hoping to shape future policies that impact their industries.
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