On Thursday, President Trump highlighted the newfound backing from prominent tech leaders as he embarks on his second term, asserting that they are now “kissing” his “A-‑.”
In his opening remarks at the University of Alabama, Trump referred to some influential figures in the tech industry. “I know a lot of these internet folks, like Elon [Musk],” he stated.
He remarked, “It’s interesting—this is a better situation.”
Trump was alluding to various Silicon Valley executives who had a rocky relationship with him during his first term.
Fast forward four years, and several of these leaders, such as Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, seem eager to mend fences with Trump as he readies for his second term.
In the weeks leading up to the inauguration, Zuckerberg and Bezos visited Trump at his Mar-A-Lago resort, alongside other key figures like Apple’s Tim Cook and Microsoft’s Satya Nadella and Brad Smith.
Some, including long-time Democratic supporter Sam Altman, co-founder of OpenAI, have even contributed to Trump’s initial committee.
Trump’s relationship with Musk improved last summer, with Musk joining him on the campaign trail, helping raise approximately $250 million for his re-election efforts. Musk has since become one of Trump’s closest allies and is now heading an initiative focused on government efficiency and cost-savings.
Reflecting on his first term, Trump expressed, “Initially, they had no idea what was going on. I won the election… There’s never been a businessman who’s won the presidency; business doesn’t translate directly.”
He continued, “You have a natural instinct for things. I told someone I was better at business or politics, and they said, ‘There are many who made money, but only a few businessmen became presidents, so I think you’re a better politician.’”
Trump views himself more as a businessman who applied his “business instincts” while in the Oval Office than as a traditional politician.
Earlier this year, tech leaders were trying to win Trump’s favor, although some of his policies, including his inconsistent stance on tariffs and recent allegations of censorship and antitrust moves, created challenges for their companies. The early days of Trump’s administration have proven less protective of major tech firms than many expected.
