Zuckerberg Praises Trump’s ‘Badass’ Response, Won’t Endorse

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently lauded former President Donald Trump’s resilience after an assassination attempt, referring to Trump’s response as “badass.” In an interview with Bloomberg, Zuckerberg recounted the dramatic aftermath of the incident where Trump, despite being shot in the ear and bleeding, stood up and raised his fist in front of the American flag. Zuckerberg described this moment as “one of the most badass things” he had ever witnessed, highlighting the emotional impact it had on him and speculating that this display of spirit and fight is why many Americans are drawn to Trump.

Despite his admiration for Trump’s resilience, Zuckerberg made it clear that he does not intend to endorse any candidate in the upcoming presidential election. He emphasized his plan to avoid involvement in the political process, a decision influenced by the backlash he faced in the previous two elections. In 2020, Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan donated over $400 million to nonprofits to aid in election administration during the COVID-19 pandemic. This action drew significant criticism from conservatives, who falsely claimed that Zuckerberg’s donations were intended to support Joe Biden and contributed to election fraud, despite Zuckerberg not endorsing any candidate at the time.

In his conversation with Bloomberg, Zuckerberg also announced that Meta would be stepping back from political content, responding to user feedback indicating a desire for less political material on the platform. He articulated Meta’s role in facilitating free expression while managing the extent to which politics overshadow human connection and community, which he believes are the core reasons people use Meta’s services. Zuckerberg’s comments reflect a broader strategy to balance the platform’s influence on political discourse with its primary mission of fostering social interactions.

Trump, however, seemed to interpret Zuckerberg’s comments as a potential for political involvement and issued a warning on his platform, Truth Social. Trump threatened severe repercussions for those he perceives as committing election fraud and specifically cautioned Zuckerberg to steer clear of the election, referring to him with the nickname “ZUCKERBUCKS” used by Republicans to criticize his financial contributions in the 2020 election.

This stance from Zuckerberg contrasts sharply with that of Elon Musk, another influential tech billionaire. Reports indicate that Musk has endorsed Trump and plans to financially support a super PAC with donations amounting to $45 million per month, although Musk has denied these claims. Musk’s support for Trump includes adding Trump-themed hashtags to X, a platform he owns, signaling a clear divergence from Zuckerberg’s apolitical approach.

Zuckerberg’s decision to distance Meta from the political arena comes after years of contentious interactions with Trump and his supporters, especially following the January 6 Capitol riot. In the riot’s aftermath, Facebook and Instagram, both owned by Meta, banned Trump from their platforms. Although these restrictions have been lifted, Trump’s criticism of big tech companies has persisted, feeding into conservative narratives about perceived bias against right-wing users. Trump even filed a lawsuit against Facebook in 2021, alleging unlawful censorship, a case that remains unresolved.

Historically, Zuckerberg has not shied away from criticizing Trump. In June 2020, amidst nationwide protests following George Floyd’s death, Zuckerberg expressed that he and his wife were “deeply shaken and disgusted by President Trump’s divisive and incendiary rhetoric” concerning race. Furthermore, Zuckerberg accused Trump of using Meta’s platforms to “incite violent insurrection against a democratically elected government” following the January 6 incident, justifying the decision to ban him from Facebook and Instagram.

As of now, Zuckerberg’s net worth is valued at $167 billion, positioning him as the fifth richest individual in the world. In comparison, Trump’s estimated net worth is $6.2 billion, placing him 490th globally. This financial context underscores the significant influence both figures wield, albeit in different spheres and through divergent approaches to politics and public engagement.