Meta Platforms Inc. has made significant strategic moves to align itself more closely with former President Donald Trump and his administration. In January 2025, Meta appointed Dana White, the CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and a notable Trump supporter, to its board of directors. This appointment aims to strengthen relations with Trump's incoming administration and benefit from White's expertise in sports and entertainment, as reported by the Financial Times.
In a similar vein, Meta has replaced Nick Clegg with Republican Joel Kaplan as its chief global affairs officer. Kaplan, who is a seasoned member of the George W. Bush administration, is expected to enhance Meta's engagement and relations with the Trump administration. Reuters highlighted this leadership change as part of Meta's broader strategy. Additionally, the company's $1 million contribution to Trump's inaugural fund in December 2024 underscores its growing political engagement with the Trump sphere, according to The Guardian.
Mark Zuckerberg, Meta's CEO, also met with Donald Trump at the Mar-a-Lago resort in November 2024 to discuss future cooperation and possibly repair past strains between the tech giant and Trump. These efforts collectively indicate Meta's strategic shift towards cultivating a more Trump-friendly environment, aiming to influence policy decisions favorable to its operations within the current political environment.