At his inauguration, President Donald Trump, recognized for his populist approach, was joined by prominent tech billionaires such as Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg.
- Belinda Foster
- Jan 21
- 2 min read
By BELINDA FOSTER
Updated 10:04 PM EST, January 20, 2025
NEW YORK (NB360) — Some of the most exclusive seats at President Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday were allocated to influential tech CEOs who are also among the wealthiest individuals globally.
This marks a departure from tradition, particularly for a president who has portrayed himself as a champion of the working class. Such close seats to the president are typically reserved for the president’s family, former presidents, and other distinguished guests.
Photos depict the tech CEOs interacting with several of Trump’s Cabinet selections, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary and Marco Rubio as secretary of state.
In one photo, Rubio is seen in the background, observing a group of tech’s wealthiest leaders. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, stand next to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and his fiancée, Lauren Sánchez, alongside Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Elon Musk, one of Trump’s closest advisers. Musk, the world’s richest person, also leads Tesla, SpaceX, and the social platform X.
Also present at the Capitol for the events were Apple CEO Tim Cook and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew.
The super-rich have long played a significant role in national politics, with several billionaires supporting the campaign of Trump’s Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris. Then-President Joe Biden recently awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to George Soros, a billionaire who donates to liberal causes.
However, the inaugural display underscores the unusually direct influence the world’s wealthiest individuals are likely to have in the new administration. In his farewell address, Biden cautioned that the U.S. was turning into an oligarchy dominated by tech billionaires wielding excessive power and influence over the nation.
Speaking in the Oval Office Monday, Trump dismissed Biden’s criticism, stating that the tech executives supported Democrats until they realized Biden “didn’t know what the hell he was talking about.”
“They did desert him,” Trump added. “They were all with him, every one of them, and now they are all with me.”
Despite receiving millions from the executives and their companies for his inaugural committee — and over $200 million in support from Musk for his presidential campaign — Trump asserted he didn’t need their money and they wouldn’t receive anything in return.
“They’re not going to get anything from me,” Trump said. “I don’t need money, but I do want the nation to do well, and they’re smart people and they create a lot of jobs.”
Comments