Tech giants and their leaders are lining up to support President-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming inauguration, with some big names writing even bigger checks. As Trump prepares for his return to the White House, companies and executives are making contributions, seemingly ready to cozy up to the new administration.
Amazon, led by billionaire Jeff Bezos, is making waves with its $1 million donation to Trump’s inaugural fund. The company will also stream the event on Prime, an in-kind contribution valued at another $1 million. Meanwhile, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is matching Amazon’s monetary donation, signaling an apparent shift in tone from Silicon Valley toward the president-elect.
OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, is personally throwing in $1 million as well. Altman expressed excitement about Trump’s vision for artificial intelligence, stating, “President Trump will lead our country into the age of AI.” This alignment between Altman and Trump has raised eyebrows, considering the divisive relationship between tech and the Trump administration in the past.
Elon Musk, never far from the spotlight, has been a close ally of Trump, regularly visiting him at Mar-a-Lago. Musk, who holds the title of the world’s richest man, reportedly spent $277 million to support Trump’s campaign. Despite Trump’s rocky history with tech leaders, the tide appears to be turning.
During his first term, Trump often criticized Amazon and Bezos, accusing the company of harming small businesses and underpaying for postal services. Bezos, who also owns The Washington Post, had been a vocal critic of Trump, especially following the Capitol riots. But now, Bezos has softened his stance, calling Trump “calmer and more settled” during a recent public appearance.
Other tech leaders seem to be adjusting their strategies as well. Sundar Pichai, Google’s CEO, reportedly plans to meet with Trump, though the company hasn’t announced any inaugural contributions yet. Back in 2021, Google donated $285,000 to President Biden’s inauguration.
It’s worth noting how different this is from Trump’s first inauguration in 2017. Back then, tech execs were notably absent from his donor list, leaving most of the big contributions to figures from the world of sports, casinos, and banking. This time around, the tech industry is stepping up, perhaps seeing an opportunity to influence policy in Trump’s second term.
Trump’s inaugural committee, led by allies like former Senator Kelly Loeffler, is raking in these funds to organize events around the big day. While taxpayers fund the swearing-in ceremony at the Capitol, everything else—the lavish balls, receptions, and other celebrations—comes from private donations. Those who contribute significantly, particularly at the million-dollar level, often get exclusive access to the president-elect, vice president-elect, and other top officials.
Inaugurations have always been more than just ceremonies; they’re a show of power, celebration, and connection. For donors, it’s a chance to get closer to the incoming administration and influence the conversation. And as the tech world signals a shift in its approach to Trump, all eyes will be on how this new relationship unfolds over the next four years.
