Billionaires Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos occupied front-row seats at Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration on January 20, symbolizing the powerful tech industry's growing influence in Washington.
According to AFP, the ceremony at the U.S. Capitol featured limited indoor seating due to inclement weather, but prominent tech leaders were placed at the forefront.
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, and his wife, Priscilla Chan, stood to the left. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his fiancée, Lauren Sanchez, along with Google CEO Sundar Pichai, were seated in the center. Elon Musk, who owns Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter), was positioned to the right.
Other tech figures in attendance included Apple CEO Tim Cook, Google co-founder Sergey Brin, and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, who sat a row behind the main stage.
“When the three richest men in America are seated behind Trump at his inauguration, it’s clear the billionaire class is running our government,” progressive Senator Bernie Sanders posted on X.
Tech’s Cozy Relationship with Trump
The presence of tech moguls marked a significant shift in Silicon Valley’s relationship with Trump compared to his first presidency. Over the past several weeks, tech leaders made overtures to align themselves with Trump’s administration, with some even contributing substantial amounts to his campaign.
Elon Musk was one of Trump’s most vocal backers, reportedly spending $277 million to support his reelection campaign. Musk also used his platform, X, to amplify pro-Trump voices during the campaign season.
Mark Zuckerberg, once a target of Trump’s criticism and threats, adapted Meta’s policies to accommodate the incoming administration. Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, also sought to improve relations by visiting Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate earlier in January.
In addition, CEOs of major tech companies collectively donated over $1 million to the president’s inaugural fund, according to Forbes.
Billionaire Influence
Media and political analysts interpreted the tech billionaires’ presence at the inauguration as a clear signal of their influence.
“They’re extremely wealthy and have essentially paid for access,” said Andrew Selepak, a communications professor at the University of Florida. “This is what they’ll do with any incoming administration to ensure their faces, names, and most importantly, money remain in the picture.”
The event underscored the growing entanglement between America’s tech industry and political power, with both sides seeking mutual benefits in shaping future policies.
(Sources: AFP, Reuters, Forbes)
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