During a delicate meeting concerning military technology, Mark Zuckerberg—dubbed “MAGA Mark” for his seeming shift toward conservative values—was ejected from the Oval Office. In the midst of ongoing antitrust disputes that have the potential to destroy Zuckerberg’s $1.3 trillion empire, the abrupt departure of the CEO of Meta underscores the complicated relationship between Big Tech and the Trump administration.
Zuckerberg’s Unwelcome Oval Office Appearance
Reports indicate Zuckerberg entered the Oval Office unannounced during a high-level meeting between President Trump and military leaders about the Air Force’s next-generation fighter jet platform. The tech billionaire was promptly asked to leave due to his lack of security clearance for such sensitive military discussions.
Wild story in the WSJ.
It’s paywalled so I’ll screenshot some key excerpts below.
But basically it’s about how Mark Zuckerberg spent millions trying to suck up to Trump so Meta only had to pay $450M (instead of $30B that the FTC wanted) to settle an antitrust case against them. pic.twitter.com/j7NM7UcVsn
— Adam Carlson (@admcrlsn) April 16, 2025
This awkward encounter represents just one facet of Zuckerberg’s complicated dance with the Trump administration. Meta’s founder has undergone a political transformation in recent years, shifting from previously liberal positions to aligning more closely with Trump’s agenda.
The Battle to Save Meta’s Empire
Behind Zuckerberg’s White House visits lies an existential threat to his business empire as the FTC pursues an aggressive antitrust case that could force Meta to divest Instagram and WhatsApp. Court documents reveal Zuckerberg reportedly spent millions trying to influence President Trump to intervene against FTC fines and prevent Meta’s potential dismantling.
White House denies Mark Zuckerberg was ‘asked to leave’ Oval Office meeting about F-47 fighter jet https://t.co/PhWLIgFtJ8 pic.twitter.com/YEjbU2TtYT
— New York Post (@nypost) July 2, 2025
During Trump’s first term, Zuckerberg visited the White House three times and met with the President and other officials as part of extensive lobbying efforts. He offered $450 million to settle the case, far below the FTC’s $30 billion demand, and allegedly indicated Trump would support him against the federal regulators.
From Liberal to ‘MAGA Mark’
Zuckerberg’s political realignment includes tangible policy shifts at Meta aimed at appeasing conservative interests. The company donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration and settled a lawsuit over Trump’s Facebook account suspension.
“Mark Zuckerberg rigged and stole the 2020 election, and that’s why President Trump got chased out of the WH, why he faced 4 years of unprecedented, Republic-ending lawfare,” said Mike Davis, a Trump defender who has advocated for breaking up Meta.
The stakes remain extraordinarily high for Zuckerberg as the FTC case proceeds. If regulators prevail, Meta could be forced to divest Instagram and WhatsApp, which would have a dramatic impact on the company’s revenue streams and market position.
Meta continues to argue it is not a monopoly and claims the government is unfairly penalizing its success. The battle between Zuckerberg’s tech giant and federal regulators began during Trump’s first presidency and has continued under Biden’s administration.
Zuckerberg’s appointment of Republican Joel Kaplan to a key position at Meta further demonstrates his strategic shift toward a more conservative alignment. Despite these efforts, the tech CEO’s spontaneous Oval Office appearance demonstrates the delicate and sometimes awkward navigation required between Silicon Valley’s power and Washington’s authority.
Sources:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14619527/mark-zuckerberg-donald-trump-ftc-trial-fines.html