Not that many of us care much for Zuck, but when he actually says something intelligent, we all do tend to listen. He is after all, still one of the wealthiest people on Earth.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently commended former President Donald Trump for his resilience following the attempted assassination, describing Trump’s response as “badass” in an interview. However, Zuckerberg made it clear that he intends to stay out of the presidential election, aiming to avoid the controversies that have plagued past campaigns.
This statement comes after Trump issued a veiled threat on Truth Social, warning Zuckerberg against meddling in the election. Trump vowed to pursue election fraudsters aggressively if re-elected, mentioning “ZUCKERBUCKS”—a term used by critics to criticize Zuckerberg’s financial contributions during the 2020 election.
THE TIDE IS TURNING.
Mark Zuckerberg PRAISED DONALD TRUMP:
“Seeing Donald Trump get up after getting shot in the face, and pump his fist in the air with the American flag, is one if the most badass things I’ve ever seen in my life.”
— Graham Allen (@GrahamAllen_1) July 19, 2024
“We’re living in a pretty crazy time,” Zuckerberg told Bloomberg, emphasizing that Meta’s role is to facilitate free expression without letting politics overshadow human connection and community, which he believes are the core reasons people use their services.
As of today, Forbes estimated Zuckerberg’s net worth at $167 billion, making him the fifth richest person in the world. Trump, with an estimated net worth of $6.2 billion, ranks as the 490th richest person globally.
In stark contrast to Zuckerberg’s retreat, fellow tech billionaire Elon Musk has taken a bold political stance. Reports suggest Musk plans to donate $45 million per month to a super PAC supporting Trump, though he denied these claims. Additionally, Musk has been vocal on social media, adding Trump-themed hashtags on his platform, X.
NEW – Zuckerberg: “Trump get up after getting shot in the face and pump his fist in the air with the American flag is one of the most badass things I’ve ever seen in my life.”pic.twitter.com/XBKel7jscu
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) July 19, 2024
Zuckerberg’s comments come amid a fraught relationship with Trump and Meta. After the January 6 Capitol riot, Facebook and Instagram banned Trump, which fueled accusations from the right that social media platforms are biased against conservatives. Trump subsequently filed a lawsuit against Facebook in 2021, alleging unlawful censorship—a case that is still pending.
This tension isn’t new. During the 2016 election, Facebook was criticized for not doing enough to combat misinformation, which many believe helped Trump’s victory. Zuckerberg initially downplayed these concerns but later admitted that Facebook could have done more. He expressed regret over Facebook’s slow response to Russian interference, calling his past remarks dismissive.
🚨Mark Zuckerberg is showing increased support for Donald Trump and Will NOT be interfering in 2024 US Elections. 🇺🇸 🚨
In an interview with Bloomberg, the Facebook founder, who has traditionally been linked with liberal and Democratic Party causes, praised Trump’s response to a… pic.twitter.com/cNENxNkSCX— Mars Davis (@MarsDavis22) July 19, 2024
In 2020, amid nationwide protests following George Floyd’s death, Zuckerberg and his wife openly criticized Trump’s divisive rhetoric. Zuckerberg accused Trump of using Meta’s platforms to incite violence against a democratically elected government, leading to Trump’s temporary ban after January 6.
Major Points
- Zuckerberg praised Trump’s resilience after the assassination attempt but decided to step back from political involvement, avoiding an endorsement.
- Trump had warned Zuckerberg against election interference, referencing his financial contributions in 2020.
- Zuckerberg highlighted Meta’s mission to balance political expression with maintaining a focus on community and human connection.
- Elon Musk has taken an opposing approach, showing strong support for Trump, though he denied reports of large financial donations.
- The relationship between Trump and Meta has been contentious, involving bans, lawsuits, and allegations of bias and misinformation.
Susan Guglielmo – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News