Former US President and President-elect Donald Trump dined Wednesday with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg at Mar-a-Lago, his private club in Florida.
The meeting comes as a crucial interaction between the Facebook founder and the Republican politician who was once banned from the social media platforms.
Zuckerberg was among several business leaders invited to discuss Trump’s economic plans ahead of his return to the White House. Stephen Miller, recently appointed deputy chief of staff for Trump’s second term, described Zuckerberg’s attendance as indicative of the tech leader’s interest in supporting Trump’s vision for the nation.
“Mark, obviously, has his own interests, company, and agenda,” Miller said during a Fox News interview. “But he’s made clear that he wants to support the national renewal of America under Trump’s leadership.”
A Meta spokesperson confirmed the dinner, pointing out that Zuckerberg was invited to meet with the president-elect and members of his team to discuss the incoming administration’s policies.
Evolving relationship
The meeting took place nearly three years after Facebook, now Meta, banned Trump following the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. The platform restored his account in early 2023.
Zuckerberg has maintained a neutral stance during the 2024 presidential campaign, avoiding endorsements. However, in recent months, he has expressed a more positive view of Trump, lauding the former president’s handling of a prior assassination attempt and criticizing alleged Biden administration pressures on social media companies to moderate Covid-19-related content.
Despite this shift, Trump has continued to attack Zuckerberg publicly. In July, he revived the nickname “ZUCKERBUCKS” on Truth Social while threatening to imprison election fraudsters, indirectly referencing the tech CEO.
Musk’s growing role
The Mar-a-Lago dinner also highlights the increasing influence of Tesla and X owner Elon Musk within Trump’s political orbit. Musk, who has contributed approximately $200 million to Trump’s campaign through his political action committee, has been a frequent visitor to Mar-a-Lago.
Musk has been tapped to co-lead an advisory panel dubbed the “Department of Government Efficiency” also famously called ‘DOGE’, alongside venture capitalist Vivek Ramaswamy, another high-profile supporter of Trump. The panel aims to identify and eliminate government waste.