In a striking display of political camaraderie, a host of leading tech billionaires joined President-elect Donald Trump for a church service ahead of his inauguration. Notable figures such as Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Apple’s Tim Cook, and Google’s Sundar Pichai were seen taking seats at St John's Church, signaling a potential alliance during a politically tumultuous time.
Other prominent attendees included media mogul Rupert Murdoch, FIFA president Gianni Infantino, and former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Interestingly, many of these executives had previously voiced concerns about Trump’s administration, particularly regarding climate change and immigration policies.
As the inaugural festivities unfolded, TikTok's Shou Zi Chou was also expected to appear, amidst speculation that the platform may face a U.S. ban. Additionally, leaders from tech giants like OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Uber’s Dara Khosrowshahi were in attendance, solidifying the significant presence of the tech elite. SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a substantial financial supporter of Trump’s campaign, has closely aligned himself with the president in recent months.
The congregation of technology heads at this service is notable; the last similar gathering took place during a 2020 congressional hearing focused on their industry. Presently, these companies confront various legal and regulatory challenges, including ongoing anti-monopoly lawsuits and other government inquiries.
Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Michael Bennett recently penned an open letter to the tech executives, warning against attempts to ingratiate themselves with Trump's administration. Altman responded via social media, highlighting perceived biases in their outreach efforts.
While the nature of Trump's relationships with these tech figures raises questions about future policies, his return to the political sphere comes amidst a complex backdrop of aspirational alliances and lingering skepticism. Trump, who previously exited the presidency under strained relations with business leaders, seems to embrace this new camaraderie, declaring on social media, “Everybody wants to be my friend!!!”
However, not all in Trump’s inner circle are pleased with these developments. Former White House advisor Steve Bannon openly criticized Musk, labeling him "truly evil", indicating that divisions remain within Trump's camp over these evolving partnerships. As the inauguration approaches, the dynamics of power and influence continue to shift on the political landscape.
