Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, joined former President Donald Trump for dinner at his Mar-a-Lago estate on Wednesday, with a senior advisor to Trump indicating that the tech billionaire is aligning with efforts to foster a “national renewal of America.”
The 40-year-old executive, whose company oversees Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has been working to rebuild relations with Trump. The two have had a historically tense relationship, particularly after Meta’s platforms banned Trump following the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
A Meta spokesperson confirmed the meeting, stating, “Mark was grateful for the invitation to join President Trump for dinner and to engage with members of his team about the incoming administration.” The statement emphasized that the discussions revolved around the future of American innovation.
It remains unclear if Elon Musk, another billionaire and Trump ally who has frequented Mar-a-Lago post-election, also attended the dinner. Musk had previously challenged Zuckerberg to a cage match, adding intrigue to their dynamic.
Stephen Miller, who will serve as Trump’s deputy chief of staff for policy, praised Zuckerberg’s intentions in an interview with Fox News, saying, “Mark has been explicit about his commitment to supporting the transformative changes happening across America under President Trump’s leadership.”
Zuckerberg, once cautious during Trump’s first term, appears more supportive this time around. He was among several tech leaders who congratulated Trump on his recent election victory. Ahead of the election, Meta adjusted its algorithms to de-emphasize political content, and Zuckerberg halted his election-related philanthropy, a significant shift from his prior funding of nonprofits focused on bolstering electoral infrastructure during the COVID-19 pandemic.
