In this article, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg praised the Trump administration for supporting Silicon Valley during a call with investors. He mentioned that 2025 will be significant for “redefining” the company’s relationships with governments. Zuckerberg expressed optimism about progress and innovation that could result from the administration’s stance, calling it a pivotal year.
Meta also agreed to pay $25 million to settle a lawsuit with President Donald Trump, who sued the company after his Facebook and Instagram accounts were suspended following the U.S. Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021. Zuckerberg and Meta have been working to improve relations with Trump, including donating to his inaugural fund and eliminating third-party fact-checking on their platforms to promote free expression.
The decision to remove fact-checkers was seen as a gesture towards Trump and his supporters who have criticized Meta for alleged censorship of conservative views. Zuckerberg’s efforts to mend ties with Trump have included appointing Joel Kaplan, a former White House deputy chief of staff under President George W. Bush, to a key policy role at Meta. Despite past tensions between Zuckerberg and Trump, the CEO’s recent actions have garnered some positive reception, as evidenced by his attendance at Trump’s inauguration alongside other tech leaders.
Following Meta’s fourth-quarter earnings report that exceeded Wall Street’s expectations, the company’s shares saw a slight increase in extended trading. CNBC’s Jonathan Vanian contributed to this report.
