In a dramatic turn of events following a near-assassination attempt, former President Donald Trump received unexpected support from two high-profile figures: Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos.
Both of these tech giants are known for their previous clashes with Trump, making their phone calls after the incident a surprising twist.
Here's a breakdown of what happened and the conversations that reportedly took place.
Zuckerberg’s Unexpected Call
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta (formerly Facebook), reached out to Donald Trump after the Republican candidate survived a shocking attack during a Pennsylvania rally.
According to Trump, Zuckerberg praised him for his resilience and expressed disbelief over the situation.
In the interview with *New York* magazine, Trump claimed that Zuckerberg had a change of heart, saying, “Mark Zuckerberg called up and said, ‘I’ve never supported a Republican before, but there’s no way I can vote for a Democrat in this election.’”
Zuckerberg reportedly told Trump that his family's political background had always leaned Democrat, but the events of the rally left him reconsidering his stance.
Though Zuckerberg made the call, a spokesperson from Meta later clarified that he has not endorsed any candidate for the 2024 election and hasn’t publicly shared his voting plans.
Bezos' Words of Encouragement
Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and owner of The Washington Post, also made a call to Trump following the July 13 rally incident.
Trump recounted the conversation, stating that Bezos was impressed by his courage during the chaos.
As Secret Service agents rushed Trump off the stage, with blood streaming down his face, the former president urged the crowd to "fight, fight."
Bezos reportedly admired Trump’s determination in the face of danger, calling it the "most incredible thing" he had ever witnessed.
In a statement that caught many by surprise, Trump noted that Bezos “couldn’t have been nicer” during their conversation.
Clarifications from Zuckerberg's Team
While these calls created a media buzz, a spokesperson for Meta was quick to clarify Zuckerberg’s position.
They emphasized that despite the personal conversation, Zuckerberg has not endorsed any candidate for the 2024 election, nor has he indicated how he plans to vote.
Zuckerberg’s stance has been neutral in previous elections, and this call doesn’t signal any shift in his public position.
Tech Giants and Trump: A Complicated History
Both Zuckerberg and Bezos have had complex relationships with Trump over the years.
Trump has previously criticized Zuckerberg, especially regarding content moderation on Facebook, accusing him of tilting the scale in favor of Democrats.
Facebook had limited the sharing of certain news during the 2020 election, such as the Hunter Biden laptop story, which caused friction between Trump and Zuckerberg.
Similarly, Bezos, who owns The Washington Post, has often been on the receiving end of Trump’s criticism, particularly due to the paper’s coverage of his presidency.
These phone calls mark a notable shift, at least in private conversations, showing a different side of these tech titans’ relationships with Trump.
What’s Next?
As Trump continues his 2024 presidential campaign, the events surrounding the July 13 rally and these surprise phone calls have certainly added intrigue to an already dramatic race.
Whether or not these conversations will have any political impact remains to be seen.
But one thing is clear: the lines between politics and business are continually evolving, and even the most unexpected alliances can emerge in times of crisis.
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