WASHINGTON (AP) — Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is set to co-host a reception next week with prominent Republican donors for the upcoming inauguration of Donald Trump, signaling Zuckerberg’s growing support for the president-elect. The reception, co-hosted by Zuckerberg, is scheduled for Monday evening, just ahead of the inaugural balls. The information comes from two sources familiar with the private event who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.
Joining Zuckerberg as co-hosts at the event are Miriam Adelson, the widow of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and owner of the Dallas Mavericks; Tilman Fertitta, the casino magnate, owner of the Houston Rockets, and Trump’s nominee for the U.S. ambassador to Italy; Todd Ricketts, the co-owner of the Chicago Cubs; and Ricketts’ wife, Sylvie Légère.
Zuckerberg’s relationship with the current president has undergone a shift, as he had previously taken a strong stance against Trump by banning him from Facebook and Instagram following the violent mob attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. However, more recently, Zuckerberg appears to be cultivating a closer bond with Trump, aligning himself with other tech leaders who are seeking to improve their connections with the new administration.
When contacted for comment about the event, Meta declined to provide a statement.
Back in November, shortly after Trump’s victory in the presidential election, Zuckerberg traveled to Florida to have dinner with the Republican leader at his Mar-a-Lago club. Additionally, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, contributed $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund.
Recently, Zuckerberg unveiled changes to content moderation policies on Facebook and Instagram, including the replacement of third-party fact-checking with user-generated “community notes.” Trump suggested that this shift was possibly influenced by threats he had made against Zuckerberg.
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Contributing to this report were AP writers Michelle L. Price in New York and Barbara Ortuay in San Francisco.
