Mark Zuckerberg Starts Meta -Ship Call by praising Trump

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg praised Trump administration for having backed Silicon Valley on a call with investors, adding that 2025 will be great to “redefine” the company’s relationship with governments.

“We now have a US administration proud of our leading companies, prioritizing American technology -winning and will defend our values ​​and interests abroad,” Zuckerberg said Wednesday. “I am optimistic about the progress and innovation that this can unlock, so this will be a great year.”

Meta on Wednesday also accepted paying $ 25 million to settle a lawsuit with President Donald Trump, according to NBC News. Trump sued Meta after the company suspended its Facebook and Instagram accounts after the U.S. Capitol uprising on January 6, 2021.

Zuckerberg and Meta have made several public efforts to smooth the relationship with President Donald Trump since his victory in November. The company donated $ 1 million to Trump’s initial fund late last year, weeks after Zuckerberg spit with him privately at his Mar-A-Lago Resort.

Earlier this month, Zuckerberg announced that Meta would eliminate fact-control of third parties to “restore free expression” to the company’s platforms. He said the fact controls had been “too political partical” and “ruined more confidence than they have created, especially in the US”

The move was widely recognized as a nod to Trump, as he and other Republicans have long claimed that Meta’s platforms such as Facebook and Instagram censored conservative views. Zuckerberg and Trump have had a particularly rocky relationship in the past, as Trump has previously threatened the technical director with life in prison.

The company also raised Joel Kaplan, former Deputy Head of White House under President George W. Bush with many years of ties to the Republican Party, to its main political role earlier this month.

Zuckerberg’s public concessions seem to serve him a good will as he participated in Trump’s initiation with other tech -mogules like Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Google CEO SUNDAR PICHAI AND Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos this month.

Shares of Meta rose slightly in extended trade on Wednesday after the company reported earnings in the 4th quarter that beat Wall Street’s expectations on top and bottom line.

-CNBCS Jonathan Vanian contributed to this report

CLOCK: Meta beats on top and bottom line, stock slides on revenue instructions