Trump Mocked Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos by Showing Off Fawning Texts
In a new book, it is revealed that Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos sought to gain favor with Donald Trump after the 2024 election, only to be mocked by him for their efforts.
According to a newly released book by New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos attempted to ingratiate themselves with President Donald Trump following his 2024 election victory. In a twist, Trump reportedly mocked their attempts behind their backs.
Zuckerberg texted Trump a photograph of a letter from one of his young children, expressing excitement about a "golden age of America," a phrase Trump had frequently used during his campaign rallies. Meanwhile, during a dinner at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club, Bezos disparaged The Washington Post to Trump, referring to it as one of his most regrettable financial investments, just months before he sought a business favor from the president, as detailed in the book titled *Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump*, which WIRED obtained prior to its June 23 release.
Weeks after meeting with Trump, he continued to share stories of how Zuckerberg and Bezos were "kissing my ass." Trump is quoted in the book as saying, "You would not believe the texts I got from these tech guys. I've got to show you," while entertaining guests.
The accounts also illustrate Trump's enjoyment of the sycophantic behavior exhibited by major tech leaders, including Google’s Sundar Pichai and Apple’s Tim Cook, who also sought his favor before his second term. Trump remarked on the shift in Zuckerberg's and Bezos's attitudes since 2016, stating, "Think of where these guys were in 2016. They hated me. They were doing everything they could to knock me down. And look at them now." Elon Musk, who was present during these conversations, appeared to take pleasure in the situation, responding with, "First-class groveling."
When asked about the revelations in the book, White House spokesperson Kush Desai refrained from addressing the specifics directly but stated, "President Trump is committed to working with every American business and business leader to cement America’s innovative dominance, re-shore critical manufacturing, and accelerate economic growth."
A source familiar with Bezos's interactions noted that the Amazon founder has historically collaborated with every president since Bill Clinton, including a $100 million donation to Barack Obama’s presidential library, and expressed intent to engage with whoever occupies the Oval Office next. Requests for comments from Bezos’s Blue Origin and spokespeople for Musk and Meta went unanswered.
The book reveals that Trump often ridiculed Zuckerberg and Bezos as they sought his approval in the wake of the 2024 election. For instance, when Zuckerberg visited shortly after Thanksgiving 2024, Trump played the national anthem, but it was a rendition by the J6 Prison Choir, comprised of individuals detained for their roles in the January 6 Capitol riot.
In the following weeks, Trump showcased the flattering texts he received from Zuckerberg to guests, pausing on a photo of the letter from Zuckerberg's child, who would have been around 8 or 9 years old at the time. Additionally, Bezos is portrayed in the book as being overly accommodating, indulging in Trump's criticisms of The Washington Post and even sending a selfie featuring himself and his then-fiancée, Lauren Sánchez.
