Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, has stated that maintaining a productive relationship with the Trump administration is "necessary" for Big Tech companies. This sentiment comes amid high-profile interactions between tech leaders and the former president, who secured a second term in office. These interactions include significant financial contributions to Trump’s inaugural fund and social events at Mar-a-Lago, the president’s Florida resort. During a recent interview with podcaster Dwarkesh Patel, Zuckerberg elaborated on his relationship with Trump. “Our default as an American company should be to try to have a productive relationship with whoever is running the government,” he explained. In November 2024, Zuckerberg dined with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, just a day before Thanksgiving, and was seen alongside other tech billionaires at Trump’s inauguration in January. Zuckerberg also addressed his experiences with the previous administration, expressing frustration over a lack of engagement. “I’ve been pretty public with some of my frustrations with the previous administration—how they basically did not engage with us or the broader business community,” he said. In August, he criticized the Biden administration for pressuring Meta to remove Facebook posts related to COVID-19, a decision he later regretted not challenging more strongly. A robust relationship between Big Tech and the government is crucial for the sector's progress, Zuckerberg reiterated. “It’s like we’re trying to build great stuff. That’s how I see it, and I would guess most others see it that way too,” he told Patel. Meta’s efforts to foster these relationships highlight the complex dynamics between the tech industry and political powers. Despite the criticism and pressures, Zuckerberg believes that such collaborations are essential for achieving the industry's goals and driving innovation forward. A Meta spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.