Jeff Bezos Joins Trump Inauguration
The inauguration of President Donald Trump's second term has drawn a diverse array of notable attendees, including Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, and Google's Sundar Pichai, who all participated in a church service alongside the President. The event has sparked both celebration and criticism, with some questioning the motivations behind the tech moguls' support for Trump.
The list of attendees at the inauguration was notable for the number of business leaders present, including tech critic Elon Musk, who donated nearly $300 million to Trump's campaign, and Uber's Dara Khosrowshahi, who attended the Capitol rotunda with the President. The attendance of these industry leaders, who have multiple outstanding matters before the government, including anti-monopoly lawsuits and investigations, has raised eyebrows among some observers. Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon was particularly critical, labeling Musk "evil" for his support of the President.
Despite the criticism, Trump has celebrated his newfound relationships with the tech moguls, tweeting "Everybody wants to be my friend!!!" The event included a church service, a presidential tea, a signing ceremony, and a parade, all of which were held indoors due to the weather. The attendance of foreign leaders, such as Javier Milei, the president of Argentina, and Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, as well as American celebrities like Jake and Logan Paul and John Fetterman, added to the spectacle of the inauguration.
The presence of Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Mark Zuckerberg at the inauguration highlights the significant stakes that the tech industry has in Trump's second term. With combined wealth of $885 billion, the trio has a considerable interest in the President's policies on tax, trade, and regulation, which could have a major impact on their businesses and the broader tech industry. As the President begins his second term, it will be interesting to see how these relationships develop and what implications they may have for the tech industry and beyond.
