Mark Zuckerberg Meets With Donald Trump At Mar-A-Lago
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg met with President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Wednesday.
The pair had dinner at Mar-a-Lago. The Times, citing sources close to the two billionaires, reported that the meeting was initiated by Zuckerberg who has had a contentious relationship with the President-elect. It’s unclear what exactly they discussed during their meetings.
The Facebook founder is said to have traveled to West Palm Beach on Tuesday before meeting Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate on Wednesday. Multiple media reports state the two men “exchanged pleasantries” and Zuckerberg congratulated Trump on winning the election. Trump and Zuckerberg dined together later that evening.
In a statement sent to the Times, a Meta representative said Zuckerberg was “grateful for the invitation to join President Trump for dinner and the opportunity to meet with members of his team about the incoming administration.”
The statement added: “It’s an important time for the future of American innovation.”
Trump was kicked off Meta platforms following the January 6 Capitol riots. At the time, the company said Trump had posted unsubstantiated claims that the 2020 presidential election had been stolen and praised increasingly violent Jan 6 insurrectionists.
Following the move, Meta spokesperson Nick Clegg said the suspension was “an extraordinary decision taken in extraordinary circumstances.” The company restored his account in early 2023.
During the 2024 Presidential campaign, Zuckerberg did not endorse a candidate. In recent months, the Facebook founder has expressed a more positive view of the President-elect, describing his fist-pumping response to the July assassination attempt in Pennsylvania as “badass.” In October, Trump also told the Barstool Sports podcast Bussin’ With The Boys he likes Zuckerberg “much better now” because he is “staying out of the election.”
