A lineup of tech billionaires and notable figures in President-elect Donald Trump’s orbit gathered as he began his inaugural celebrations, which included a church service on Monday morning.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Apple CEO Tim Cook, and Google CEO Sundar Pichai were seen occupying prominent seats at St. John’s Church. Joining them were media mogul Rupert Murdoch, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Many of these executives had previously criticized Trump during his first term, speaking out on topics such as climate change and immigration policies. However, several were present later at the Capitol Rotunda, including SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who reportedly spent several moments gazing at the ornate ceiling.
Musk, who contributed nearly $300 million to support Trump’s campaign, has maintained close ties with the president ever since.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chou is also expected to attend the inauguration amidst ongoing challenges for his company, including a US ban. Other notable attendees include OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Uber’s Dara Khosrowshahi.
Spotlight on Tech Giants at Trump’s Inauguration
The presence of prominent tech leaders at the event marks a rare public gathering for the industry, last seen on a similar scale during a 2020 congressional hearing that scrutinized their companies. Today, these firms continue to face significant legal and regulatory challenges, including antitrust lawsuits, investigations, and tariff disputes.
Last week, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Michael Bennett, both Democrats, addressed an open letter to these executives, accusing them of attempting to "cozy up to the incoming Trump administration to evade scrutiny, limit regulation, and gain favor." In response, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman took to social media, remarking: “Funny they never sent me one of these for contributing to Democrats.”
Friendships Amid Controversy
The extent of Trump’s camaraderie with tech leaders and how it will influence policy decisions remains uncertain. The president, who once exited office as a pariah within the business community, now appears to be relishing his renewed connections. On social media last month, he declared: “Everybody wants to be my friend!!!”
However, not everyone in Trump’s circle supports these relationships. Former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon criticized Musk on Sunday, describing him as a “truly evil guy” and suggesting he should be “run out of here by Inauguration Day.” Bannon added: “President Trump broke the oligarchs, and they surrendered.”
As the inaugural celebrations unfold, the evolving dynamics between Trump and the tech industry remain under close scrutiny, with significant implications for both the political and business worlds. Photo by Trump Vance Inaugural Committee, Inc., Wikimedia commons.
