Mark Zuckerberg Switches Meta's Politics Division Lead with Its Most Influential Republican Figurehead
Mark Zuckerberg Switches Meta's Politics Division Lead with Its Most Influential Republican Figurehead
Mark Zuckerberg is continuing his endeavor to win favor with the incoming Trump administration. After dining with the President at Mar-a-Lago and contributing $1 million to his inauguration fund (how much does an inauguration actually cost?), Zuckerberg has now promoted the head of Meta's political division with the company's most prominent Republican. According to Semafor, this news was recently reported.
Joel Kaplan has recently served as the deputy head of global policy under Nick Clegg, who joined Meta (previously known as Facebook) in 2018 after serving as the UK's deputy prime minister under David Cameron. Clegg has been something of a loyal advocate for Zuckerberg over the years, acting as a spokesperson for the company on controversial issues. As per the 2022 book "An Ugly Truth," Clegg advised Meta's leadership that regulation was unavoidable, recommending the company to take the lead in creating light-touch regulations instead of stricter laws. He also advocated for whataboutism, or shifting focus from Meta's criticisms towards China—a tactic Zuckerberg has used to push for TikTok's ban.
"I'm grateful for everything you've done for Meta and the world these past seven years," Zuckerberg said in a statement to Semafor, praising Clegg for his contributions. "I've learned so much working with you and our entire team has benefited from this opportunity. You've made a significant impact advancing Meta's voice and values globally, as well as our vision for AI and the metaverse. Your team has also built a strong foundation for continuing this work. I'm thrilled that Joel will step into this role next, given his extensive experience and insight leading our policy work for many years."
Regardless of how Zuckerberg truly feels about Trump, he is ultimately a businessman who will pursue what is best for his company. Clegg recently criticized Elon Musk, Trump's de facto vice president, labeling him as a "one-man, hyper-partisan, ideological hobbyhorse" in an interview with the BBC. Clegg has also defended content moderation as essential in safeguarding audiences from harmful content, contradicting Musk's goal of removing all censorship.
Kaplan, in his earlier career, served as White House Deputy Chief of Staff under George W. Bush and reportedly urged against limiting political speech internally at Meta, as it could negatively impact conservatives disproportionately.
Given Trump's second and final term, Kaplan looks well-suited to lead Meta's policy as the incoming administration prepares to launch a series of executive actions. Trump had minimal political experience when he previously took office and was later preoccupied with the pandemic. However, this time around, the administration is reportedly ready to implement new policies immediately.
Meta has reinstated all of Trump's accounts after banning them following the Capitol riots, and Zuckerberg even apologized over the summer for censoring content during the COVID-19 pandemic, promising not to give in to pressure again (millions of people have unfortunately died due to ignoring COVID-19 measures). In general, Meta has prioritized AI-generated content and engagement over news content, opting for lighter fare. Zuckerberg has declared that he no longer wishes to deal with divisive content.
Trump has responded by expressing his appreciation for Zuckerberg's changes, saying back in October that he appreciates Zuckerberg "much better now."
Just like Zuckerberg, other influential leaders have made amends with Trump since his first term, visiting him to show allegiance after facing criticism. Individuals such as Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and Apple CEO Tim Cook have all made the pilgrimage to show their respect to the President. These leaders wish to avoid drawing Trump's ire again, opting to protect their empires at all costs, especially as Musk—who has been critical of Silicon Valley leaders and runs his own rival businesses—now has direct access to Trump and the power to influence policy.
In light of the upcoming policies from the incoming Trump administration, Meta's new appointment of Joel Kaplan as head of its political division seems strategic. Given Kaplan's past experience serving as White House Deputy Chief of Staff under George W. Bush, his expertise in navigating political waters may prove beneficial for Meta in the tech-focused future.
The future of technology and regulation is of significant concern for tech giants like Meta, and Kaplan's promotion reflects Zuckerberg's foresight in preparing for potential changes in law and policy.