Big Tech's Donations $1M a Piece to Trump’s Inauguration: A Critical Reflection

Today, I came across headlines at work about prominent tech leaders and companies donating significant sums to President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration fund. I couldn't wait to look more into it when I got home. 

To me, this looks a whole lot like pandering for influence, a strategic move to stay on the president’s good side over the next four years. I must give it to them. What a clever move that is? Forget all the MAGA supporters. They come in after the big win is secured with their big dollars and buy influence. That is the power of money. 

Take Amazon, for instance. Reports indicate that Jeff Bezos’s company plans to contribute $1 million in cash to the inaugural fund and another $1 million in-kind through streaming the ceremony on Prime. It’s clear that these companies understand the stakes, that Trump could use his power of the presidency to scrutinize their actions, particularly given his grievances about their treatment of him during his last term. He might be accused of being petty, but he probably should. 

Let’s not forget how platforms like Meta and Twitter (now X) limited Trump’s voice toward the end of his presidency. While some may argue they acted responsibly, others see these actions as politically motivated. Trump himself likely viewed this as evidence of bias, particularly in the wake of COVID-19 and the contentious 2020 election. The widespread "Anything but Trump" sentiment during that period certainly didn’t help. These mega platforms helped fuel that against him.

Big Tech knows the power the president wields and, by extension, the risk of being targeted for investigations. Their donations seem like a calculated effort to avoid future scrutiny. But here’s where I stand: I hope they “do” get investigated. The American people deserve to know the truth about how these corporations might have influenced political processes.  

That said, the ordinary person is left out of this power play. How many of us can afford to donate millions to an inauguration fund or have the ear of those in power? This is how the politics of influence works in America. Those with deep pockets get the attention, while the rest of us are left wondering about fairness. It could just be that they are being generous toward a fellow billionaire who will be leading the most powerful country on earth. 

It's fair to note that writing about these things isn't anti-capitalist or anti-billionaire or against the elites. Some of these corporations have created thousands of jobs and have made millions of people rich, especially Amazon. That is why we raise these concerns to help elevate morals in our world. 

Nothing in life is truly fair, but it’s worth reflecting on the systems that perpetuate these imbalances. As for me, I rest my case.  

I remain your observing pal, 

Ronnie