Bloomberg Businessweek published a lengthy profile of Mark Zuckerberg—the founder of Facebook and CEO of Meta—focusing on his political transformation. Like several other Silicon Valley billionaires once associated with progressive causes, Zuckerberg is showing a marked shift toward conservatism.
The pivot became unmistakable on July 19, 2024, just days after the assassination attempt on Donald Trump. In an interview with Bloomberg, Zuckerberg said: "When Donald Trump stood up after being shot and raised his fist in the air with the American flag waving nearby—that was one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. In some way, if you're American, it’s hard not to respond to that spirit, to that fight—and I think that’s why so many people like him."
Although he stopped short of endorsing either Trump or Biden, and insisted he did not intend to "play a significant role" in the election, his statement was widely interpreted as a response to Elon Musk’s swift move to side with Trump after the incident.
At the same time, Zuckerberg began accusing the Biden administration of exerting censorship pressure on Meta’s platforms—attempting to suppress criticism of COVID-19 policies and silence reports related to the Hunter Biden corruption scandal.
After Trump’s election victory, Meta shifted course: the company dismantled its internal DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) programs, ended its practice of downranking political content, and cut ties with external fact-checkers. Key positions were filled by Trump allies. Meta also reached an out-of-court settlement over the lawsuit related to Trump’s 2021 account suspension—the future president received $25 million. Many legal experts believe the company had a solid chance of winning in court, but it opted for a compromise.
According to several current Meta employees, the company’s new policy—prioritizing free expression over fact-checking or viewpoint balance—reflects the founder’s genuine beliefs. But those no longer working with Mark Zuckerberg argue the opposite: he never held consistent convictions. While the image of a progressive served business interests, he championed looser immigration policies, supported DEI programs, and insisted that free speech must be tempered by responsibility. Now that a conservative pivot appears more profitable, he has fully embraced it.
In June 2024 and again in January 2025, Zuckerberg appeared twice on Joe Rogan’s podcast—a defining space of the so-called "male internet," known for rejecting political correctness and progressive ideology. There, he remarked that tech companies need "masculine energy." In another podcast, he declared, "I’m done apologizing"—referring to his weariness with feeling guilty for being a man, white, and wealthy. The comment, delivered with Zuckerberg’s usual restraint, drew laughter from the audience.
Sources cited by Bloomberg Businessweek suggest that envy toward Elon Musk played a significant role in Zuckerberg’s transformation. Internal Meta research as early as 2019 showed that Musk was far more widely perceived as a symbol of innovation—a finding Zuckerberg reportedly took hard.
The main conclusion drawn by the publication’s reporters: regardless of political orientation, Zuckerberg’s efforts have not delivered the influence he may have hoped for. He never became a key figure for progressives—President Joe Biden openly called him "a problem" and admitted he was never a fan. And after his turn to the right, even with direct access to the Trump administration, Zuckerberg has yet to secure lasting credibility among conservatives. He is seen as useful—but not one of them.
Meta under Zuckerberg
Meta seeks to ban a book by a former Facebook employee
She accuses Zuckerberg of creating censorship tools for the Chinese government and transferring AI technologies, including facial recognition systems
