Donations from major technology companies and their executives to the inauguration fund of Donald Trump, President-elect Donald Trump’s second term is approaching.
Microsoft Corp. and Alphabet Inc.’s Google have pledged each $1 million. They join other industry giants such as Amazon.com Inc. Meta Platforms Inc. and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman who also contributed to the fund.
Boeing, Toyota and Uber also donated $1 million.
The contributions made by these donors have enabled Trump’s inaugural Committee to raise a record $170 million. This is more than the $63 millions raised in anticipation of Joe Biden’s 2021 inauguration and the $53,000,000 raised in anticipation of Barack Obama’s 2009 first inauguration.
Funds will be used to support the events and activities associated with the event.
Trump’s big tech
It marks an important shift in the relationship between Trump and his tech industry. Relations have been fraught with tensions.
Trump accuses Google, Meta and other companies of bias against political content and government.
Trump’s inauguration is fast approaching, and both he and the companies involved appear to want reconciliation.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai – who had previously condemned the riots of January 6, congratulated Trump for his “decisive win”
Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, announced similar plans. He said he would eliminate fact-checkers, reduce censorship on all platforms and increase recommendations for content that is political.
Apple CEO Tim Cook is reportedly on the list of contributors with a contribution worth $1 million, although Apple hasn’t officially confirmed this.
Microsoft has donated twice as much this time, having contributed $5000 in the past to fund initial funds for 2017 and 2021.
These donations are seen by observers as a strategic move to keep the new administration happy.
The past tensing of relations has been replaced by a warming one.
In September of last year, Trump threatened legal action, accusing Google of spreading negative news during his election campaign.
Trump acknowledges this change of tone by saying: “The first thing everyone did was fight me… Now everybody wants to be friends with me.”
Trump’s Inauguration day
Donald Trump will take the oath for his second term on Inauguration day, which is traditionally devoted to a peaceful transfer of authority.
Trump will deliver his inaugural speech at noon ET (5pm GMT), followed by all the usual festivities.
The outgoing president Joe Biden confirmed his presence, a gesture of symbolic unity in spite of the political division. Trump had not extended this courtesy when Biden took office four years earlier.
Trump’s rumored guest list
Trump invited several foreign leaders for the event, a departure from previous precedent.
Although it’s customary for foreign heads of state to send their diplomats to the event due to concerns about security, notable figures like Argentinean President Javier Milei or Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that they would be attending.
According to reports, far-right leaders such as Giorgia Melons of Italy and Viktor Orban of Hungary are also invited. Orban is yet to confirm the plans.
Some notable absentees are the Chinese President Xi Jinping despite his invitation and French President Emmanuel Macron.
According to his party, Eric Zemmour, a French politician of the far right, will instead represent France.
The former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro has been also invited. He is a strong Trump supporter.
The post Microsoft, Google and Boeing Join Donor List for Trump’s Record $170M Inauguration Fund may be updated as new information unfolds
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