Amazon to contribute $1 million to Trump's inauguration fund. Meta also donating $1m
Amazon has announced its plans to donate $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration fund. The e-commerce giant will also be streaming Trump's inauguration on its Prime Video service, amounting to an additional in-kind donation worth $1 million.
Amazon's Contribution
The Wall Street Journal was the first to report Amazon's donation plans. This came shortly after Trump revealed that Jeff Bezos, the company's founder, is scheduled to meet with him in person the following week.
In the past, Trump and Bezos have had public disagreements, with Trump criticizing Amazon and The Washington Post, which Bezos owns, during his first term.
Despite their differences, Bezos has taken a more conciliatory approach recently. He expressed optimism about Trump's second term and endorsed the president-elect's initiatives to reduce regulations during a speech at The New York Times' DealBook Summit.
Meta's Donation
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, also contributed $1 million to Trump's inauguration fund.
This donation was confirmed by a Meta spokesperson following a private meeting between Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Trump at Mar-a-Lago.
During the 2024 campaign, Zuckerberg maintained a neutral stance on endorsing presidential candidates but has shown a more positive attitude towards Trump.
Corporate Donations to Inaugurals
Corporate donations to presidential inaugurals are common, with exceptions like Barack Obama's refusal of corporate contributions in 2009. While Facebook did not donate to either Biden's or Trump's inaugurals, Google and Microsoft have made significant donations in the past.
Amazon's upcoming donation of $1 million is a substantial increase from the $58,000 it contributed to Trump's 2017 inaugural.
It is important to note that inaugural committees are required to disclose their fundraising sources, but not how the funds are utilized.
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