Tech’s New Tango with Trump
Politics Becomes Trendy Again as Tech Starts a New Strategic Dance with a GOP-Controlled Washington
Image created by ChatGPT. ChatGPT also helped me to edit and refine this piece.
When I joined Facebook in 2011, being a Republican in Silicon Valley was an anomaly. Over a decade later, as we prepare for a Trump 2.0 era, tech’s relationship with politics is shifting once again.
Back then, I was among only a few Republicans at Facebook. Ted Ullyot, who came from the George W. Bush White House, was the only one I knew before others joined the DC office six months after me. Over the years, I often joked that I wore a scarlet “R” on my chest. I’ll never forget a colleague’s reaction upon learning my Republican background: “Wait, you’re a Republican?! But I like you!”
Today, I’m a Republican with a pharmaceutical-level disclaimer of what kind. I haven’t worked in partisan politics since 2010, and I’ve led bipartisan teams, been welcomed by both sides, and publicly attacked on Steve Bannon’s War Room and Rachel Maddow alike. My voting record includes Democrats and Republicans. While at Facebook, I was alternately trotted out as proof of ideological diversity or shoved into a corner when it no longer served the company.
This week, these experiences have been on my mind as I reflect on how tech companies operated during this election year. Leaders like Mark Zuckerberg have moved from hiding from politics to engaging with the incoming administration through donations and trips to Mar-a-Lago.
Politics Goes In and Out of Fashion in Tech
In many ways, these moves aren’t new, especially if you look at the long arc of tech’s political engagement. What changes is how openly companies embrace their role. In 2012 and 2016, tech companies actively donated to both convention committees, hosting employees at events. Obama sat down with Mark for an interview in 2011; Bush did the same in late 2010. Politics was “cool” then, and tech showcased its work.
But 2017 marked a shift. Facebook didn’t donate to Trump’s inaugural committee but provided in-kind contributions, like setting up an Instagram-worthy mini Oval Office at a ball. By then, engagement with politicians had to be quieter—showing commitment to election integrity became more valuable. Trump’s surprise win and the controversies surrounding his presidency meant visible support for his administration was risky.
By 2020, the tide shifted again. Companies focused on aligning with Biden’s administration through content moderation efforts, particularly around COVID misinformation. This drew praise from Democrats but outrage from Republicans.
The GOP Resurgence: Silicon Valley Takes Note
Fast-forward to today. This cycle saw a spectrum of tech companies' political approaches. Elon Musk and Marc Andreessen made public bets on Trump, while most companies stayed quiet, offering customer service to candidates and working on election integrity behind the scenes. These actions were strategic, aimed at avoiding political firestorms while still fulfilling obligations to their platforms’ users.
Substack went further, branding 2024 as “The Substack Election,” boldly embracing its political role. In contrast, platforms like Meta sought to distance themselves from politics, scaling back news distribution and minimizing engagement. Yet, as Threads launched in 2023, it became clear they could run from politics but not hide from it.
Meanwhile, TikTok gained momentum with influencers while fighting potential bans. Its election-related scrutiny was limited in the U.S. but intensified in places like Romania. Platforms like YouTube, OpenAI, and Bluesky operated in a fragmented environment with reduced transparency, making their political influence harder to track.
AI, Trust, and Transparency: A New Era of Risk
Trust and safety work—including moderating content and election integrity—will continue to grow but remain out of the spotlight. Companies fear appearing to censor political speech, not just in the U.S. but also under increasingly right-leaning global governments. As AI becomes a critical tool in politics, the stakes grow higher. Tech leaders will need savvy, behind-the-scenes strategies to shape how AI impacts democracy without inviting backlash.
Lessons from the Past: Balancing Influence and Accountability
The next two years will see tech CEOs navigating their role in Washington, inspired by Elon Musk’s influence and determined not to cede ground. Expect more Silicon Valley presence in DC. My friend Alex Conant at Firehouse Strategies put it well in the Journal, “Given the election results, there is going to be an immense amount of policymaking in Washington next year and smart CEOs realize it’s better to shape an agenda than fight an agenda.” I wouldn’t be surprised if Meta reintroduces political and news content under the guise of user demand—possibly even featuring a Mark Zuckerberg/Donald Trump Facebook or Instagram Live event.
These moves, while polarizing, reflect how Washington works. As power shifts, so do platform policies and strategies. Four years ago, bipartisan outrage justified Trump’s deplatforming. Today, the decisive GOP victory legitimizes donations and Mar-a-Lago visits. The left, burnt out from constant battles, resists less loudly than in 2016—for now.
Looking Ahead: A New Chapter for Tech and Politics
As the pendulum swings, tech must carefully balance influence with accountability. AI and decentralized platforms will reshape political narratives, but transparency and trust will be harder to sustain. Whether in Silicon Valley, Washington, or beyond, this evolving relationship will shape elections and the future of democracy.
Until then, we’re entering a new era where tech cozies up to Republicans like never before. With so much riding on AI and technology policy, expect tech to do all it can to sway Washington in its favor.
NOTE: If you are looking for a list of all the tech company announcements for this cycle I’ve got my list below and you can also find them at the database I keep here.
Anthropic: Preparing for global elections in 2024
Anthropic: Elections and AI in 2024: Anthropic observations and learnings
Bloomberg: AI Startup Wants to Make Sure Chatbots Don’t Tell People How to Vote
ElevenLabs: How ElevenLabs is Preparing for Elections in 2024
Google: Find voting locations, Election Day results on Google Search and Maps
Google: Working together to address AI risks and opportunities at MSC
iHeart: Podcasts to keep you up-to-date and informed ahead of the election
Hootsuite: US presidential election statistics: 2024 social media data
McAffee: This Election Season, Be on the Lookout for AI-generated Fake News
Meta: What We Saw on Our Platforms During 2024’s Global Elections
Meta/Axios: Meta to extend block on new election ads past voting day
Meta: Exclusive: Meta removes Trump account restrictions ahead of 2024 election
Meta: Ending Suspension of Trump’s Accounts With New Guardrails to Deter Repeat Offenses
Meta: Labeling AI-Generated Images on Facebook, Instagram and Threads
Meta: Helping People Understand When AI Or Digital Methods Are Used In Political or Social Issue Ads
Microsoft: Bing 2024 Elections Experience
Microsoft; Combatting AI Deepfakes: Our Participation in the 2024 Political Conventions
Microsoft: Meeting the moment: combating AI deepfakes in elections through today’s new tech accord
OpenAI: How OpenAI is approaching 2024 worldwide elections (updated Nov 8 to include what they saw during 2024)
Spotify: How Spotify Is Protecting Election Integrity in 2024
Substack: A Better Digital Polis
Substack: Introducing a new destination for U.S. election discourse
TikTok: Continuing to protect the integrity of TikTok through the US elections
TikTok: Politics, Religion, and Culture
Twitter/X: Ron DeSantis to Announce 2024 Presidential Run With Elon Musk on Twitter
Twitter/X: Supporting people’s right to accurate and safe political discourse on X
Twitter/X: Safeguarding Information Independence and Combating Hate Speech
YouTube: An update on our approach to US election misinformation
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