Dec 12, 2024 - Business

Amazon gives $1M to 2025 inaugural fund in latest Big Tech gift for Trump

Rebecca Falconer

Jeff Bezos, founder and executive chairman of Amazon and owner of the Washington Post, takes the stage during the New York Times annual DealBook summit at Jazz at Lincoln Center on December 04, 2024 in New York City. — Jeff Bezos, founder and executive chair of Amazon and owner of the Washington Post, takes the stage during the New York Times annual DealBook summit in New York City last week. Photo: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Amazon gave $1 million to President-elect Trump's inaugural fund, the company confirmed Thursday — one day after Facebook and Instagram parent Meta announced a similar donation.

Why it matters: Trump noted to CNBC's Jim Cramer on Thursday that he's returning to the White House with warmer relations with Big Tech leaders and said Amazon founder Jeff Bezos planned to visit him next week, following a similar Mar-a-Lago meeting with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Trump had an at times adversarial relationship with both Amazon and Facebook during his last term, but last week Bezos expressed optimism about the incoming administration. He described the president-elect as "calmer than he was" and "more settled."

Details: In addition to the $1 million cash donation, a source close to the company said Amazon would provide a $1 million in-kind donation by broadcasting Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20 on Prime Video.

Amazon also streamed President Biden's inauguration and offered to donate to the 2021 event but his campaign told the online retailer it wasn't accepting donations from Big Tech companies, according to the source.

The big picture: Bezos and Zuckerberg were among a series of Big Tech CEOs who quickly congratulated the president-elect on his election win last month, as business leaders seek access to and gain influence with the second Trump administration.

Go deeper: Tech titans scramble to be inside Trump's tent

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Amazon gives $1M to 2025 inaugural fund in latest Big Tech gift for Trump

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