Tech CEOs take prime spots at Trump’s inauguration

President Donald Trump was flanked by tech billionaires, GOP donors, and leaders of other countries during his swearing-in ceremony yesterday, held indoors in the Rotunda of the US Capitol due to subfreezing temperatures outside.

Interestingly, some of the most exclusive seats, right behind Trump, in the 600-seater room were occupied by the world’s wealthiest tech CEOs, the same who maintained a distance from the president during his first term in the White House.

These prime spots are typically reserved for family and dignitaries and mark a break from tradition.

Industry heavyweights, including Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Google’s Sundar Pichai, Tesla’s Elon Musk, Apple’s Tim Cook, and TikTok’s Shou Zi Chew, were in attendance.

Critics, including former president Joe Biden, have raised alarms about the growing power of tech oligarchs in the nation.

Trump dismissed such concerns in his Oval Office speech yesterday, highlighting that these executives previously backed Democrats, too.

Despite their financial contributions to his campaign and inauguration, Trump claimed he owed them nothing, emphasizing their job-creating power instead. “I don’t need money, but I do want the nation to do well, and they’re smart people and they create a lot of jobs,” he said.

The cozy relationship between tech leaders and the Trump administration signals their closeness with the new administration.