Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta (formerly Facebook), attended the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, 2025. The event was held at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., and was attended by numerous dignitaries, tech moguls, and public figures
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Zuckerberg’s presence at the inauguration garnered significant attention, not only because of his status as a tech titan but also due to some controversial moments. One of the most talked-about incidents involved Zuckerberg being caught on camera seemingly staring at Lauren Sanchez, the fiancée of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos
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. This moment quickly went viral on social media, leading to a flurry of memes and jokes
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In addition to the viral moment, Zuckerberg’s attendance at the inauguration was notable for other reasons. Just days before the event, Meta announced significant layoffs, cutting 5% of its total workforce. This decision was part of a broader strategy to focus on the company’s lowest-performing employees and streamline operations
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. The layoffs came after Meta scrapped its U.S. fact-checking program and reduced curbs on discussions around contentious topics such as immigration and gender identity
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Zuckerberg’s relationship with Trump has been a topic of interest for many. After Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, Zuckerberg met with him and made several strategic moves within Meta. He appointed Trump ally and UFC boss Dana White to Meta’s board of directors and elevated prominent Republican Joel Kaplan to lead the company’s global affairs operation
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. These decisions were seen as part of Zuckerberg’s efforts to align Meta more closely with the new administration.
The inauguration itself was a star-studded affair, with many high-profile guests in attendance. Alongside Zuckerberg and Bezos, other tech moguls such as Elon Musk, Sundar Pichai, and Tim Cook were present
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. The event was held indoors due to the freezing temperatures in Washington, D.C., on Martin Luther King Jr. Day
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Despite the controversies and challenges, Zuckerberg’s presence at the inauguration highlighted his continued influence and prominence in the tech industry. His actions and decisions, both at Meta and in his interactions with political figures, continue to shape the landscape of technology and social media.
For a visual recap of the event, you can check out this YouTube video.
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: Daily Mail
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: MSN
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: Tribune
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: AP News
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: Metro
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USA TODAY | MSN
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metro.co.uk
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Daily Mail
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The Express Tribune
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apnews.com
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