Trump’s Second Term: Tech Giants Seek Meetings with President-Elect

Trump’s Second Term: Tech Giants Seek Meetings with President-Elect

President-elect Donald Trump gleefully remarked to reporters that major technology executives are eager to meet with him ahead of his second term, a stark contrast to the hostility he faced during his first tenure. Trump attributed the newfound warmth to a perceived change in his personality, quipping, “I don’t know, my personality changed or something.”

Silicon Valley’s Embrace of Trump

In a significant shift from the previous election cycle, several prominent Silicon Valley leaders, including Elon Musk, have embraced Trump. Musk has earned a key advisory role, co-leading the newly established “Department of Government Efficiency.” Former PayPal executive David Sacks has also been tapped as the crypto and AI czar.

Meetings at Mar-a-Lago

Trump revealed that he has already dined with “almost all” of the tech industry titans and anticipates visits from the remaining executives at his Mar-a-Lago resort. Among those who have or will soon meet with Trump are Apple CEO Tim Cook, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai.

Donations and Advisory Councils

Members of the tech community have also pledged substantial financial support for Trump’s inaugural committee, with some individuals and corporations committing $1 million donations. Despite initial skepticism towards Trump during his first term, leading figures such as Cook have since joined his business-focused advisory council.

Trump’s First Term: Hostility and Resignations

Trump’s initial presidency was marked by significant opposition from the business community, including tech. Musk broke ranks with Trump over the latter’s withdrawal from the Paris climate accord, while CEOs from Intel, Merck, and Under Armour resigned from White House advisory councils after Trump’s response to white supremacist violence in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Trump’s Continued Outreach to CEOs

Despite these setbacks, Trump remained steadfast in his pursuit of CEO support. In 2019, the White House launched a business-focused council that included Cook, IBM executives, and Walmart leadership. Trump’s second term is expected to witness further consolidation of relations between the tech industry and the White House.