The History of Trump's Feud With Mark Zuckerberg - Business Insider
Donald Trump and Mark Zuckerberg have had a tumultuous relationship over the years. As the former US president and the head of one of the country's largest companies, respectively, Trump and Zuckerberg are no strangers to each other.
The Oval Office Meeting
In September 2019, Trump and Zuckerberg had a previously unannounced meeting in the White House. The meeting was said to be constructive, with Zuckerberg in Washington, D.C. to discuss future internet regulation with policymakers. The two also had a private dinner with Peter Thiel, a vocal supporter of Trump in the 2016 presidential election.
During the meeting, they discussed various topics related to their work, as well as news around it. Zuckerberg was in DC to testify before Congress about Facebook's cryptocurrency, Libra.
Facebook Ban and Reinstatement
In 2021, Meta "indefinitely" suspended Trump's accounts following the January 6 Capitol riots. The platform cited the use of their platform to incite violence as the reason for the ban. However, after a review by Facebook's Oversight Board, Meta decided to reinstate Trump's account with new guardrails in place to deter repeat offenses. In July of the same year, Meta removed the additional guardrails that were put in place on Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Meta stated that as the nominee of the Republican Party, Trump would no longer be subject to the heightened suspension penalties. They also mentioned that they would review accounts subject to this protocol periodically.
Legal Battles and Differences
In July 2021, Trump filed a lawsuit against Facebook, Google, Twitter, and their respective CEOs, alleging unlawful censorship of him and other conservatives. While his lawsuit against Twitter was dismissed in May 2022, his feud with Zuckerberg continued. Despite their differences, Zuckerberg commended Trump for his resilience after an attempted assassination.
Trump, on the other hand, expressed his disdain for Zuckerberg's actions, including a contribution made by Zuckerberg and his wife to fund election infrastructure. The relationship between the two influential figures remains strained, with Trump vowing to prosecute election fraudsters if elected.
Despite their disagreements, both Trump and Zuckerberg acknowledge the importance of competition in the social media landscape, with Trump now supporting TikTok as a competitor to Facebook and Instagram.
