Monday will mark a notable day in U.S history as Donald Trump readies himself to take on the presidential mantle for a second time. The scene behind him, filled with Silicon Valley giants like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos, bears testament to this significant occasion. The immediate aftermath of Trump’s win observed him highlight how his first term was embroiled in combat, while the second term ebbs with friendliness. The substantial shift in corporate leaders’ sentiment over the past eight years is certainly mirrored in their newfound camaraderie towards Trump.
Nothing captures this U-turn more pronouncedly than the legion of technology magnates who are expected to grace Trump’s swearing-in ceremony. Their conspicuous support, both in person and financially, contrasts starkly with the inauguration of his first term. Four years ago, Trump stood amidst his family upon his inauguration, his address haunted by mentions of ‘American carnage’. As upheavals broke out, those surrounding him in photos were limited to immediate kinfolk, high-profile political figures, and powerful financiers, including Mike Pence, Melania Trump, Barron, Ivanka, Eric, Tiffany, Donald Trump Jr, as well as the Obamas, the Bidens and campaign contributor Miriam Adelson.
Looking back, it’s glaringly evident that Trump’s first presidential inauguration had no traces of the world’s three wealth-heavy individuals who are all set to join the inauguration this time around. The second term brings with it a marked shift with Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos not only participating in the momentous event but also assuming pivotal roles. As the Trump 2.0 government takes shape, these tech behemoths have pledged their allegiance.
Furthermore, TikTok head honcho Shou Zi Chew, despite ongoing legal troubles with his app, expresses intent to be a part of the ceremony. This announcement was made prior to the Supreme Court’s decision reaffirming a law that seeks to ban his app unless it changes hands into non-Chinese ownership.
Reports also hint at the possible presence of other powerful executives from the tech world. Despite the animosity that Trump’s earlier remarks might have sparked, Sundar Pichai, Tim Cook, and Sam Altman – from Google, Apple, and OpenAI respectively – have reportedly echoed their intentions to attend the ceremony. This shows Trump’s contentious relationship with these tech giants hasn’t hindered their plans of being a part of this historic day.
It’s important not to overlook Trump’s past clashes with individuals within this group. He once derisively referred to Bezos, proprietor of The Washington Post, as ‘Jeff Bozo’ and warned Zuckerberg of potential incarceration. There were times when Musk and Zuckerberg crossed paths in a combative atmosphere, and Musk and Bezos persisted in their competitive space rivalry. Despite their past disagreements, they seem to have adjourned their battles to foster stronger alliances.
The inaugural celebrations of Trump’s second term also promise a host of glittering performances by renowned artists. Names on the performer list include Carrie Underwood, Billy Ray Cyrus, Jason Aldean, Rascal Flatts, and Gavin DeGraw, marking an evident upgrade from the prior inaugural celebration that saw participation from the Missouri State University Chorale and The Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
In the aftermath of Trump’s victorious election night, the fundraising wheels for his inauguration were set in motion. A whopping $200 million has since been raised, with at least $150 million earmarked for the inauguration ceremony specifically.
Back in 2017, Trump’s inaugural benefactors include corporate heavyweights such as Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Bank of America, and JPMorgan Chase. This time around, many of these corporations are not only maintaining their generous support, but in many cases, they are also becoming increasingly vocal about it.
An illustrative case in point is Amazon. The e-commerce giant contributed less than $100,000 to Trump’s first inauguration, a figure that is set to be vastly outmatched this time. Recent media reports suggest that Amazon has pledged a donation of $1 million in support of Trump’s second presidential inauguration, signifying a tenfold increase from their previous contribution.