In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta Platforms Inc., praised former President Donald Trump's reaction to being shot as "badass" and inspiring. Zuckerberg expressed that Trump's display of strength and resilience resonated with many voters and contributed to his appeal. However, Zuckerberg clarified that he is not endorsing Trump or his opponent, President Joe Biden, and does not plan to be involved in the upcoming election.
Zuckerberg's comments add to a growing trend among Silicon Valley leaders, such as Elon Musk, Marc Andreessen, and Ben Horowitz, who are showing support for Trump, with some even pledging donations to his campaign. Despite this, Zuckerberg emphasized that Meta is making changes to ensure that Facebook does not play as significant a role in future elections. He noted that users have expressed a desire for less political content on the platform, and Meta is already recommending less of it to its users.
The relationship between Zuckerberg and Trump has been complex, with Trump previously using Meta's products to spread misinformation and challenge the company's rules. Following the Capitol riots in January 2021, Trump was suspended from Facebook and Instagram for two years. Although his accounts have since been reinstated, Trump has indicated that he plans to retaliate against Meta, calling the company the "enemy of the people."
In response to Trump's threats, Zuckerberg stated that he welcomes competition and believes that Meta will continue to thrive in the social media space. When asked about Trump's previous push to ban TikTok, Zuckerberg declined to comment, stating that it is "above his pay grade."
Overall, Zuckerberg's comments highlight the complexity of his relationship with Trump and Meta's efforts to navigate the political landscape while maintaining a neutral stance. As the election approaches, it will be interesting to see how these dynamics continue to evolve.