f{"id":38201,"date":"2024-12-14T11:41:15","date_gmt":"2024-12-14T19:41:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=38201"},"modified":"2024-12-14T11:41:16","modified_gmt":"2024-12-14T19:41:16","slug":"tech-billionaires-get-in-line-to-support-trump-inauguration-fund","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2024\/12\/14\/tech-billionaires-get-in-line-to-support-trump-inauguration-fund\/","title":{"rendered":"Tech Billionaires Get in Line to Support Trump Inauguration Fund"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/media-library\/openai-ceo-sam-altman.jpg?id=51591056&amp;width=1200&amp;height=400&amp;quality=90&amp;coordinates=0%2C112%2C0%2C230\" alt=\"OpenAI CEO Sam Altman\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">OpenAI CEO Sam Altman attends a session of the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos on January 18, 2024.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(Photo by Fabrice Coffrini\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">&#8220;President Trump will lead our country into the age of AI, and I am eager to support his efforts to ensure America stays ahead,&#8221; said OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/author\/eloise-goldsmith\">ELOISE GOLDSMITH<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dec 13, 2024 (CommonDreams.org)<a href=\"https:\/\/giving.commondreams.org\/-\/XKQWGZVR\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">OpenAI CEO Sam Altman became the latest tech titan to make an explicit overture to U.S. President-elect&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/donald-trump\">Donald Trump<\/a>&nbsp;when he confirmed Friday that he intends to make a $1 million to Trump&#8217;s inauguration fund.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The news comes after Meta&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/tech\/mark-zuckerbergs-meta-donates-1-million-to-trumps-inaugural-fund-32a999c1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">confirmed<\/a>&nbsp;Wednesday that it has donated $1 million to the fund, and it was&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/politics\/elections\/jeff-bezos-amazon-plans-to-donate-1-million-to-trumps-inauguration-dc3705ac\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reported<\/a>&nbsp;Thursday that Amazon intends to make a $1 million donation.&nbsp;<em>The Washington Post<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2024\/12\/13\/trump-administration-transition\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">characterized<\/a>&nbsp;Altman&#8217;s move as &#8220;the latest attempt to gain favor from a leading technology executive in an industry that has long been a target of Trump&#8217;s vitriol.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Altman said in a statement that was sent to multiple outlets that &#8220;President Trump will lead our country into the age of AI, and I am eager to support his efforts to ensure America stays ahead.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The donation from Meta follows a trip by Meta CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg down to Trump&#8217;s Mar-a-Lago Club to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/tech\/mark-zuckerbergs-meta-donates-1-million-to-trumps-inaugural-fund-32a999c1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">meet<\/a>&nbsp;with the president-elect last month. Jeff Bezos, Amazon&#8217;s executive chairman, is slated to head to Florida to meet with Trump at Mar-a-Lago next week,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/politics\/elections\/jeff-bezos-amazon-plans-to-donate-1-million-to-trumps-inauguration-dc3705ac\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">according<\/a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<em>The Wall Street Journal.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Zuckerberg and Trump have not always been on the best of terms\u2014Meta temporarily&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/about.fb.com\/news\/2023\/01\/trump-facebook-instagram-account-suspension\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">booted<\/a>&nbsp;Trump from Instagram and Facebook following his comments regarding the January 6 insurrection, and Trump&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/news\/donald-trump-once-threatened-jail-112328545.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">threatened<\/a>&nbsp;Zuckerberg with lifetime incarceration if Trump perceived that Zuckerberg was interfering in the 2024 election\u2014but Zuckerberg made entreaties to the then-candidate this past summer when he described Trump&#8217;s response to his assassination&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/cnycentral.com\/news\/nation-world\/zuckerberg-says-trumps-shooting-response-was-one-of-most-bada-things-hes-ever-seen-mark-zuckerberg-meta-facebook-donald-trump-assassination-attempt-politics-2024-election-bloomberg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">attempt<\/a>&nbsp;as &#8220;badass.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Zuckerberg and Meta refrained from donating to Trump&#8217;s inauguration fund in 2017, and to President Joe Biden&#8217;s inauguration fund in 2021,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/tech\/mark-zuckerbergs-meta-donates-1-million-to-trumps-inaugural-fund-32a999c1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">according<\/a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<em>The<\/em>&nbsp;<em>Wall Street Journal.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In response to the news that Meta donated to Trump&#8217;s inauguration fund this time, the watchdog group&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/public-citizen\">Public Citizen<\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Public_Citizen\/status\/1867293024029749531\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">wrote<\/a>: &#8220;Shocker! Another tech bro billionaire trying to buy his way into Trump&#8217;s good graces. Zuckerberg donated $1 million to Trump&#8217;s inaugural fund. $1 million to the man who threatened Zuckerberg with life in prison. Grow a spine.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Journalists Mehdi Hasan&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/mehdirhasan\/status\/1867180307696549914\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">described<\/a>&nbsp;the move as &#8220;bending both knees to Trump.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/mehdirhasan\/status\/1867180307696549914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1867180307696549914%7Ctwgr%5Ed7eb7586a32f66a39e132af175cccebf63e362a6%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2Ftrump-tech-billionaires-donation\">https:\/\/x.com\/mehdirhasan\/status\/1867180307696549914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1867180307696549914%7Ctwgr%5Ed7eb7586a32f66a39e132af175cccebf63e362a6%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2Ftrump-tech-billionaires-donation<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bezos also chafed against Trump during his first presidency. Trump has repeatedly criticized&nbsp;<em>The Washington Post,<\/em>&nbsp;which is owned by Bezos, for its&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2020\/03\/03\/trump-campaign-sues-washington-post-for-defamation.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">coverage<\/a>&nbsp;of him. In legal&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2021\/07\/06\/1013420036\/pentagon-scraps-10-billion-contract-with-microsoft-bitterly-contested-by-amazon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">proceedings<\/a>, Amazon also accused Trump of swaying the bidding process when the Pentagon chose Microsoft over Amazon for a lucrative contract because of Trump&#8217;s disdain for Bezos. However, in a move that was viewed as a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/newrepublic.com\/post\/187561\/washington-post-president-endorsement-harris-trump-bezos-coward\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">signal<\/a>&nbsp;to Trump, Bezos blocked&nbsp;<em>the Post<\/em>&nbsp;from&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/news\/washington-post-endorsement\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">endorsing<\/a>&nbsp;Vice President&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/kamala-harris\">Kamala Harris<\/a>&nbsp;just before last month&#8217;s election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Margaret O&#8217;Mara, a history professor at the University of Washington who focuses on the high-tech economy, said during an interview with&nbsp;<em>NPR<\/em>&nbsp;the fact that support for Trump isn&#8217;t happening quietly &#8220;is something new.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;It&#8217;s just a recognition that there&#8217;s not much to be gained in outspoken opposition, but perhaps there is something to be gained by being very clear about your support and hope that Trump does well,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/author\/eloise-goldsmith\">ELOISE GOLDSMITH<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Eloise Goldsmith is a staff writer for Common Dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/author\/eloise-goldsmith\">Full Bio &gt;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>OpenAI CEO Sam Altman attends a session of the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos on January 18, 2024.&nbsp; (Photo by Fabrice Coffrini\/AFP via Getty Images) &#8220;President Trump will lead our country into the age of AI, and I am eager to support his efforts to ensure America stays&#8230; <a class=\"continue-reading-link\" href=\"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2024\/12\/14\/tech-billionaires-get-in-line-to-support-trump-inauguration-fund\/\"> Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr; <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38201","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38201","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38201"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38201\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38201"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38201"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38201"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}