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President-elect Donald Trump isn’t even in the Oval Office yet, but he’s already winning. Elon Musk, the wealthiest man in the world, stepped up and endorsed Trump months ago, and has become a key player in helping Trump’s incoming administration. Now other billionaires are rushing to get in line.
The news broke Wednesday night that Mark Zuckerberg had gone to visit Trump, and made a $1 million donation to Trump’s inauguration fund. Thursday night, another one jumped on board.
From the Wall Street Journal: Amazon.com is planning a $1 million donation to President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural fund, as founder Jeff Bezos and other tech leaders shore up ties with the incoming administration.
The donation is being prepared as Bezos, Amazon’s executive chairman, is slated to visit Trump next week at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla., according to people familiar with the matter.
Tech companies have been the target of intense criticism by Trump and his allies, and other tech leaders have hastened to smooth ties with him. Mark Zuckerberg directed Meta Platforms to also make a $1 million contribution to Trump’s inaugural fund, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.
Bezos and the company decided on the contribution earlier this week, and communicated it to Trump’s team, according to some of the people. “Bezos is donating through Amazon,” according to a person close to Bezos. Amazon also will stream the inauguration through its Prime Video business, a separate, in-kind donation valued at $1 million, another of the people said.
This is an upgrade for Bezos. Amazon only donated $58,000 for Trump’s 2017 inauguration.
According to a CNN report, Bezos is also planning to meet with Trump in person in the near future.
The Wall Street Journal points out that Bezos’ space exploration company, Blue Origin, competes for government contracts, and is a chief rival to Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
Bezos and Trump have repeatedly clashed for years, in part due to Bezos owning the liberal news outlet, The Washington Post. However, Bezos as adopted a more positive tone toward Trump recently, and even congratulated him on his election victory last month.
“Big congratulations to our 45th and now 47th President on an extraordinary political comeback and decisive victory. No nation has bigger opportunities. Wishing @realDonaldTrump all success in leading and uniting the America we all love,” he wrote in a post on X.
Big congratulations to our 45th and now 47th President on an extraordinary political comeback and decisive victory. No nation has bigger opportunities. Wishing @realDonaldTrump all success in leading and uniting the America we all love.
— Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) November 6, 2024
On the day Trump was shot at the Butler, Pennsylvania rally, Bezos wrote, “Our former President showed tremendous grace and courage under literal fire tonight. So thankful for his safety and so sad for the victims and their families.”
Our former President showed tremendous grace and courage under literal fire tonight. So thankful for his safety and so sad for the victims and their families.
— Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) July 14, 2024
https://t.co/rdURSqUUf8 is planning a $1 million donation to president-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural fund, as founder Jeff Bezos and other tech leaders shore up ties with incoming administration. https://t.co/ulb4LXzkgn
— WSJ Business News (@WSJbusiness) December 12, 2024
NEWS ALERT: Zuckerberg’s Meta makes huge donation to Trump’s inaugural fund
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