Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos, and oh-so-”masculine” Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg will probably be very particular friends at Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20.
An official concerned with the occasion planning confirmed to NBC Information that three of the US’ wealthiest males will probably be seated collectively on the platform because the convicted felon takes the oath of workplace. The tech bros will probably be cozied up proper subsequent to Trump’s Cupboard nominees and different distinguished elected officers.
Given the billionaire trio’s seven-figure donations to the inaugural fund, this bare show of favoritism on Trump’s large day doesn’t come as a shock.
As Day by day Kos beforehand reported, a bunch of tech moguls have lined as much as kiss Trump’s ring, providing sizable donations forward of his second time period.
However because the three stooges kiss as much as the incoming president and throw cash at his toes, Musk, Zuckerberg, and Bezos additionally share one thing else in widespread: private pursuits to guard.
On-line buying mogul Bezos has a giant stake in protection contracts together with his aerospace firm Blue Origin—and he additionally has some bother forward with the Federal Commerce Fee, which filed an antitrust lawsuit in opposition to the Amazon founder in 2023.
The case made headlines final 12 months when the federal government company accused Bezos of concealing proof by utilizing the disappearing messaging service Sign amid the continued lawsuit. Regardless of a number of makes an attempt by Amazon to get the lawsuit thrown out, the listening to is ready to go forward in October 2026.
And whereas Bezos butted heads with Trump previously, it’s clear he is aware of having Trump on his aspect this time round can solely profit him.
As for Musk, the wealthiest man on the earth has a number of investments hinging on his blossoming relationship with Trump—to not point out that Trump’s win alone boosted Musk’s (and different billionaires’) wealth.
After all, Musk already has his personal Trump-backed self-importance venture to maintain him and fellow tech bro billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy busy in the course of the subsequent 4 years: the very unofficial Division of Authorities Effectivity, which claims it’ll minimize spending by $2 trillion.
Zuckerberg additionally has some issues about his empire that having a friendship with Trump would possibly alleviate. The Meta proprietor is ready to go to trial with the FTC in April over an antitrust lawsuit concerning his buy of Instagram and WhatsApp. Zuckerberg allegedly bought the apps at an exorbitant worth with a view to push out any potential rivals.
The social media scion appears to be taking part in up his MAGA help in mild of the brand new administration. As beforehand reported, Zuckerberg has referred to as off the usage of impartial fact-checkers on Fb, altered the hateful conduct coverage to permit harassment of ladies and the LGBTQ+ group, introduced that content material moderation efforts will transfer to the famously unbiased Texas, and is dismantling his firm’s DEI initiatives.
To actually drive dwelling his ass-kissing, Zuck can also be reportedly cohosting a black-tie Inauguration Day reception for his new bestie.
Billionaire oligarchs apart, Trump seems to be pulling out all of the stops for his large day, reserving nation music singer Carrie Underwood to sing “America the Beautiful” as effectively. However given the incoming president’s obsession with crowd sizes and massive introductions, Trump wasn’t happy with a easy inauguration ceremony.
The Republican will even be internet hosting three inauguration balls following the morning ceremony: the Commander in Chief Ball, the Liberty Inaugural Ball, and the Starlight Ball.
Trump will even throw a so-called Victory Rally in D.C.’s Capital One Area the evening earlier than.
Given the hundreds of thousands of {dollars} that billionaires have lavished on his inaugural fund, the man can definitely afford to throw a number of ego-stroking celebrations.
