Amazon and Meta, two of the world’s tech giants, have each pledged $1 million towards President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration fund.
The contributions are part of the corporate tradition of supporting the transition of power in the United States.
In addition to the monetary donation, Amazon plans to stream the inauguration ceremony on its Prime Video platform, normally valued at an additional $1 million, according to a company spokesperson.
This places Amazon alongside Meta, which has also confirmed its $1 million contribution to the January 20 event.
Mending Past Tensions
The donations arrive at a time when both companies appear to be working to establish better ties with the incoming administration.
Amazon’s founder, Jeff Bezos, is set to meet with Donald Trump next week. This meeting follows years of public tension between Trump and Bezos, particularly over the Washington Post, which Bezos owns. Trump has often criticised the newspaper for its coverage of his first presidential term.
Similarly, Meta’s contribution follows a history of unstable relations. Trump has previously accused the social media giant of being biased against him, labelling Facebook as “anti-Trump” during his presidency.
However, moves to mend fences have been obvious, with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg reportedly dining with Trump in November at his Mar-a-Lago estate.
Corporate Contributions to Inaugural Funds
Donations to presidential inaugural funds are not uncommon among corporations. These contributions are often seen as a way to demonstrate support for the democratic process and to promote goodwill with a new administration. In Trump’s 2017 inauguration, a record-breaking $106.7 million was raised, largely from corporate donors.
While some view these donations as symbolic, others interpret them as strategic moves to ensure favourable relationships with policymakers.
For companies like Amazon and Meta, which operate in industries closely tied to federal regulations, maintaining open lines of communication with the administration is particularly important.
The Washington Post’s decision not to endorse any candidate during the recent presidential election added some complexities to Bezos’ relationship with Trump.
While some speculated that the move was a way to remain neutral due to condemnation of media bias, it also meant withholding an endorsement of Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
Bezos defended the editorial decision, stating that the credibility of newspapers depends on demonstrating impartiality.
These contributions could mean an attempt by Amazon and Meta to become collaborative partners with the Trump administration. Issues such as data privacy, e-commerce regulation, and antitrust concerns are likely to be on the agenda for tech companies in the coming years.
In extending an olive branch early, both Amazon and Meta may be aiming to secure their influence in impacting policies that impact their operations.
