On Donald Trump’s inauguration day, some of the world’s richest tech billionaires took center stage, showing just how powerful and influential they’ve become in U.S. politics.
Among them were Elon Musk (the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX), Mark Zuckerberg (the CEO of Meta, formerly Facebook), and Jeff Bezos (the founder of Amazon). These three are currently the richest people on Earth, according to Forbes.
Other tech leaders like Google’s Sergey Brin, Apple’s Tim Cook, and Google CEO Sundar Pichai were also there, making it clear that the world of tech is more involved in politics than ever before.
This was a big change from how the tech world reacted to Trump during his first term. Back then, many in Silicon Valley didn’t agree with his views, but now these billionaires are trying to build better relationships with him.
Why it matters: These tech moguls are not just at the event as guests. They’ve been working hard to get Trump’s attention and favor, which can help their companies by making sure they get government contracts and avoid stricter rules.
For example, Zuckerberg has changed some Facebook rules to make them more in line with Trump’s ideas. Musk has even spent a lot of money to support Trump’s election campaign and made his X platform a place for pro-Trump voices. Bezos, who owns The Washington Post, also met with Trump, despite some controversies about how his newspaper handles certain political issues.
Even though it was a rainy day and only a few people were able to attend in person, these tech leaders made sure they were there, sitting in important spots at the ceremony. This shows they have a lot of influence over the government, and they’re not afraid to show it.
Some people, like Senator Bernie Sanders, think these billionaires are getting too much power. He wrote on social media that when these very rich men sit behind Trump at his inauguration, it’s clear that billionaires have a lot of control over the government.
While some believe this is a sign of too much “paid access” to power, others see it as just a way for these business leaders to make sure their companies and interests are protected.
These billionaires are also trying to make sure their companies, such as SpaceX, Amazon, and Google, keep getting government contracts to help their businesses grow, but they’re also facing challenges, like lawsuits over unfair business practices.
Overall, it’s clear that the tech billionaires’ presence at the inauguration is a sign that money, power, and politics are more connected than ever before.
