Silicon Valley’s most prominent tech leaders attended President Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025, marking a striking shift in their relationship with his administration. Key figures like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai, and Tim Cook were seated prominently, signaling potential collaboration. Notably, each CEO donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund, a move experts believe reflects efforts to influence upcoming policies.
Political analyst Michael Yaki described the gathering as “unprecedented,” with tech leaders mingling alongside Trump’s family and cabinet nominees. San Jose State professor Ahmed Banafa highlighted the change, noting that relations between Silicon Valley and Trump were strained in his earlier term. Banafa credited Musk’s influence as a major factor in fostering dialogue, particularly regarding AI and technology regulations.
The CEO of TikTok was also present, following Trump’s federal ban extension on the app and his proposal for the U.S. to take a 50% ownership stake. Trump emphasized the economic stakes, declaring, “If I approve the deal, it’s worth maybe a trillion dollars.”
Experts suggest tech leaders aim to avoid stringent regulations while shaping policies favorable to their industries.
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