Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg met with President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago last week, marking a new chapter in their turbulent relationship. The meeting, first reported by The New York Times and confirmed by Meta, highlights the evolving dynamics between the tech mogul and the former president. While Zuckerberg praised Trump’s leadership after his 2024 election win, their history has been riddled with tension, legal battles, and accusations of conspiracy.

A History of Strained Relations

The relationship between Trump and Zuckerberg soured in 2021 when Facebook banned Trump following the January 6 Capitol attack. Trump responded by suing Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, along with their respective CEOs, accusing them of censorship. The lawsuit marked the beginning of a contentious period that saw Trump frequently criticizing Zuckerberg and Facebook’s role in the 2020 election.

In his 2024 book Save America, Trump alleged that Zuckerberg conspired against him by funding election infrastructure through $419 million in donations. Referring to these as “Lock Boxes,” Trump claimed the donations were part of a plot to undermine his presidency.

“He would come to the Oval Office with his very nice wife, but he was always plotting against me,” Trump wrote. He further threatened legal action against Zuckerberg, promising to imprison him if any illegal activities occurred during the 2024 election.

Surprising Praise and Alleged Phone Call

Despite their rocky history, Zuckerberg extended an olive branch following Trump’s election victory, joining other tech leaders in congratulating him. On Threads, Zuckerberg wrote, “Congratulations to President Trump on a decisive victory. We have great opportunities ahead of us as a country.”

However, Trump added a controversial twist, claiming that Zuckerberg called him after an assassination attempt in July and expressed his support. According to Trump, Zuckerberg said, “There’s no way I can vote for a Democrat in this election.”

Meta has denied that Zuckerberg made such a statement, with a spokesperson reiterating that he has not endorsed any candidate or communicated his voting intentions.

Zuckerberg has publicly praised Trump’s resilience, calling his raised fist after the assassination attempt “one of the most badass things I’ve ever seen.” In a July interview with Bloomberg, he expressed admiration for Trump’s spirit, stating it was “hard not to get emotional about that fight.”

Social Media Reacts

The revelations have sparked heated discussions across platforms, with opinions divided over the evolving relationship between Trump and Zuckerberg:

• @PoliticalTruth24: “Zuckerberg and Trump? Never thought I’d see the day. Politics makes strange bedfellows!”
• @TechInsider2024: “Zuck’s playing both sides as usual. He’s protecting Meta’s bottom line, not picking a team.”
• @FreeSpeechNow: “Glad to see Trump calling out the ‘Zuckerbucks’ nonsense. Tech giants need accountability.”
• @ElectionWatcher: “Trump’s claims are wild. Can we trust anything he says about Zuckerberg?”
• @NeutralObserver: “If Zuck and Trump can bury the hatchet, maybe there’s hope for the rest of us.”
• @ProgressiveVoice: “Zuckerberg praising Trump after everything? Shows where his priorities lie—profits over principles.”

Future Collaboration or Continued Conflict?

As Trump prepares to take office, the relationship between him and Zuckerberg remains a subject of intrigue. While the Mar-a-Lago meeting signals a potential thaw, their history suggests that tensions could resurface. Whether this new chapter leads to collaboration or further controversy will be closely watched.