Zuckerberg Shifts Meta’s Political Stance Ahead of Trump’s Second Term

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Tuesday a significant shift in the company’s political alignment, positioning the social media giant to better navigate the conservative pressures of a second Trump administration. The move comes after months of strategic changes, including lifting restrictions on former President Donald Trump‘s Facebook and Instagram accounts and reducing content moderation policies.

Zuckerberg, once a supporter of progressive causes, began signaling his political pivot last summer. In July, he praised Trump’s response to an assassination attempt, calling it “one of the most badass things I’ve ever seen.” By August, Meta had lifted the suspension on Trump’s accounts, imposed after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, effectively giving him a fresh start on the platforms.

The shift continued with Meta’s decision to ease restrictions on COVID-19 misinformation, a move that aligned with Trump’s criticism of government censorship. Zuckerberg also allowed a personal threat from Trump to go unanswered, signaling a willingness to accommodate the former president’s demands.

In the lead-up to the 2024 election, Meta’s corporate political action committee refrained from donating to either major candidate, though individual employees contributed nearly $2 million to Vice President Kamala Harris. After Trump’s victory, Meta donated $50,000 to his inaugural fund and elevated Joel Kaplan, a longtime Republican insider, to lead its global affairs operation.

Zuckerberg framed the changes as a return to Meta’s roots in free expression. “We saw a lot of societal and political pressure, all in the direction of more content moderation, more censorship,” Kaplan said in a recent interview. “We’ve got a real opportunity now with a new administration that defends free expression.”

Critics, however, view the shift as a calculated move to avoid regulatory scrutiny. “Zuck’s announcement is a full bending of the knee to Trump,” said Nina Jankowicz, a disinformation expert. “It’s an attempt to catch up to Musk in his race to the bottom.”

Meta’s pivot reflects broader trends in corporate America, where companies often adjust their policies to align with the political winds. With Republicans controlling Congress and Trump set to take office, Zuckerberg’s strategy could prove crucial in navigating the regulatory landscape over the next four years.