Former President Donald Trump stated that after surviving an assassination attempt, he received unexpected calls from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who praised his resilience and defiance. Trump, who was allegedly shot during a rally in Pennsylvania on July 13, claimed Zuckerberg expressed newfound support for him despite their past tensions.
In an interview with New York magazine, Trump recounted Zuckerberg’s words: “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, traditionally aligned with Democrats, reportedly told Trump that after witnessing his response to the attack, he could not support the opposing party in the 2024 election.
Jeff Bezos, owner of the Washington Post, also reached out, with Trump stating, “He said, ‘It is the most incredible thing I’ve ever watched,’” referring to Trump’s response to the assassination attempt, where the former president continued to engage with supporters despite being bloodied.
However, a spokesperson for Meta clarified that Zuckerberg has not endorsed any candidate in the upcoming election and has not communicated his voting intentions to anyone.
The calls are notable given Trump’s longstanding criticism of Zuckerberg, particularly regarding Facebook’s handling of content related to the 2020 election and its alleged bias against conservatives. Despite this history, Trump shared that Bezos was “couldn’t have been nicer” during their conversation, acknowledging the complex dynamics between them, especially given Bezos’s ownership of the Washington Post, a publication often critical of Trump.
While Trump’s account paints a picture of unexpected support from tech giants, Meta has maintained that Zuckerberg’s outreach does not equate to political endorsement.
