Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday praised President Trump’s administration and said he looks forward to “redefining” the relationship the tech giant has with governments.
“This is also going to be a big year for redefining our relationship with governments,” Zuckerberg said on a Meta earnings call on Wednesday.
“We now have a US administration that is proud of our leading companies, prioritizes American technology winning and that will defend our values and interests abroad,” Zuckerberg continued.
“And I am optimistic about the progress and innovation that this can unlock,” he added.
The remarks come the same day Meta and Trump signed a settlement over a 2021 lawsuit the president brought against the social media company over its decision to suspend his accounts following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
Meta agreed to pay Trump $25 million, roughly $22 million of which is expected to go toward a fund for Trump’s presidential library, while the rest will go toward legal fees and other plaintiffs, according to The Wall Street Journal, which first reported on the settlement. A Meta spokesperson confirmed the Journal’s report to The Hill.
Trump, who long treated Zuckerberg as an adversary, has since warmed up to the Meta CEO, who visited the president at Mar-a-Lago following his election victory and attended last week’s inauguration.
Democrats and other critics have accused tech executives, including Zuckerberg, of attempting to curry favor with the president to protect their companies from unfavorable legal or policy moves.
Earlier this month, Meta eliminated its fact-checking program in a sharp reversal for the major social media company. The program was started in 2016 and was often touted by Meta as a way to prevent misinformation and disinformation on its platforms.
The president suggested the fact-checking changes had something to do with him, telling reporters earlier this month that the decision was “probably” in response to his previous threats against Zuckerberg and the company.
