Reports suggest that Amazon, under the direction of its founder Jeff Bezos, is believed to be donating a staggering $1 million to the inauguration ceremonies of President-elect Donald Trump. Bezos, along with several other tech moguls, is apparently looking to form cosier ties with the incoming president. A cash donation of $1 million is expected from Amazon, with an additional non-monetary contribution in the form of streaming the inauguration event through Amazon’s proprietary video platform.
High-level communications between Trump and Bezos were revealed, following an assassination attempt on the former. Despite past public remarks in favor of Trump, Bezos’s actions suggest a level of desperation to align himself with tech leaders eager to engage the President-elect. Through displaying his private discussion with tech leaders and giving accolades to corporations he once blamed for his 2020 election loss, Trump seems to be changing his tune towards the tech industry.
Meta, the tech company formerly known as Facebook, recently also stepped forward to confirm generous financial support of $1 million to Trump’s inauguration ceremonies. This compelling move came just a fortnight after the CEO’s private meeting with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort. This shift in stance from Meta is intriguing, considering its previous ban on Trump from its platforms branded him as a risk, following the infamous insurrection on January 6, 2021.
Bezos’s own political maneuverings had previously drawn fire from Trump for his acquisition of The Washington Post and the perception of biased coverage by the esteemed publication. In a Twitter spat dating back to 2015, Trump heavily disparaged Bezos, predicting Amazon would crumble should it be mandated to pay its fair share of taxes, citing what he called a ‘scam’ involving The Washington Post.
Furthermore, The Post found itself in a whirlwind of controversy recently when Bezos declined to give its endorsement in the impending 2024 presidential race. Contrary to popular belief, such endorsements play no role in swaying elections. No undecided voter in Pennsylvania or elsewhere would cite ‘Newspaper A’s endorsement’ as a factor in their decision.
Many argue that an endorsement merely creates an illusion of partisanship, leading to the questioning of the impartiality of a newspaper. Hence, the lack of endorsement from Bezos may be viewed as a principled move, promoting transparency and independence. However, it’s impossible to ignore the potential negative impacts of such a decision.
The fallout from the lack of endorsement was significant for The Washington Post. Several members of the publication’s editorial board tendered their resignations, expressing their discontent with the decision to withhold endorsement for Vice President Kamala Harris. Furthermore, a significant number of readers revoked their subscriptions in protest of the perceived political play.
The internal angst extended beyond board members, as several staff members also expressed their disapproval publicly. This series of events underscored the inherent problems associated with mixing politics and the free press, leading to question marks over Bezos’s intentional withholding of endorsement.
In another interesting turn of events, Trump was spotted in meetings with executives from Blue Origin, another major player in the tech industry. A public statement issued by Bezos strongly refuted any accusations of withholding endorsement in a bid to curry favor with Trump or gain any undue advantage.
In addition to his tiffs with Bezos, Trump has also repeatedly locked horns with Mark Zuckerberg over the years. Threats issued against the Meta head-honcho in a book published by Trump, cautioning him of dire consequences if caught meddling in the 2024 Presidential Election. This strong rhetoric yet again showcases the fraught relationship between Trump and the tech moguls.
Regardless of the potential pitfalls and controversies, the plans of Amazon and Meta to generously contribute to Trump’s inauguration fund are indicative of a changing political landscape where tech giants are increasingly looking to cultivate relationships with those in power. The extent of the impact of this on future international and corporate politics remains to be seen.