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Facebook founder and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been trying to build a strong relationship with President Trump and his administration ever since he got back to the White House.
Zuckerberg has already visited the White House three times since the start of Trump’s second term. However, his company’s policies still favor mass censorship, something President Trump went after him for previously.
Trump was suspended from Meta platforms following the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. The company defended their decision and said that Trump’s online presence was “a serious risk to public safety.” Trump then sued Meta and ended up winning a $25 million settlement.
Now, it appears Zuckerberg is trying to be buddy buddy with Trump and save face. He claims his company has put an end to their censorship and misinformation policies. Business associate editor for the Media Research Center Joseph Vasquez isn't buying it.
"As much as he tries to make it look like he's a centrist, he's a political animal and an opportunist," said Vasquez. "I always take everything he says with a massive grain of salt."
According to Vasquez, it's only because of President Trump being back in the White House that Zuckerberg is "playing by the rules." If Kamala Harris would've been voted president, Vasquez believes Zuckerberg would allow his platforms to be up to their usual censorship, and maybe even worse than before.
"He knew that with Trump winning that Trump had made serious legal threats that he was going to come after the censors," Vasquez said. "So, of course you have Zuckerberg trying to make good with the Trump administration."
"If Kamala Harris were president, I guarantee Zuckerberg wouldn't be making this so-called transformation, if you even want to call it that," Vasquez added, talking about Zuckerberg's shuffle to right-wing appeal.
Zuckerberg is also reportedly lobbying President Trump and White House officials to agree to a settlement that would prevent Meta Platforms from facing an antitrust trial later this month. A Federal Trade Commission trial is scheduled for April 14. The company could be forced to unwind its acquisition of the widely-used WhatsApp and Instagram.
The businessman side of Zuckerberg is leading him to want to be in the White House as a favorable person and the antitrust lawsuit is making it even more so. However, this may be a good old-fashioned situation of keeping your friends close and your enemies closer between President Trump and Zuckerberg.