Tech Titans Unite with Trump for Inaugural Church Gathering

In an unexpected alliance, prominent tech executives attended a church service with President-elect Trump, signaling a potential shift in relationships between business and politics.

As the inaugural celebrations for President-elect Donald Trump commenced, a notable congregation of tech industry luminaries showed up for a church service at St. John's Church on Monday morning. High-profile attendees included Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Apple chief Tim Cook, and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, each taking front-row seats alongside Trump.

Also in attendance were media magnate Rupert Murdoch, FIFA president Gianni Infantino, and former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Despite previously being critical of Trump during his first term regarding issues like climate change and immigration, these tech magnates gathered to support the upcoming inauguration.

TikTok's CEO Shou Zi Chew is anticipated to participate in the inauguration as well. Other leaders, including Sam Altman of OpenAI and Dara Khosrowshahi of Uber, are also expected to show support. Notably, Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, has reinforced his loyalty to Trump, having spent nearly $300 million on his campaign efforts.

The assembly of tech executives recalls the last significant public congregation of such leaders, which occurred during a 2020 congressional hearing focused on antitrust issues. The tech giants currently face numerous challenges from the U.S. government, including antitrust lawsuits and regulatory probes.

Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Michael Bennett recently expressed concerns, accusing these executives of seeking favor with Trump to stave off scrutiny and regulation. Responding to the letter, Altman took to social media with a hint of sarcasm, suggesting that similar outreach from Democrats was absent during his contributions to their campaigns.

The dynamics between Trump and the tech elite could evolve as the inauguration unfolds, with many questions lingering about the longevity of these newfound alliances. Former White House advisor Steve Bannon criticized Musk, projecting skepticism toward Trump's relationship with prominent business leaders, suggesting that his camp views the tech magnates as having "surrendered."

With Trump's unorthodox style, he appears to revel in the friendships he’s forming, stating on social media last month: "Everybody wants to be my friend!!!" As the inauguration proceeds, the interplay between Trump's administration and the tech community could reshape the political landscape.