Trump Features Mark Zuckerberg’s Photo in New Book with Strong Words

Mark Zuckerberg is making an unexpected appearance in Donald Trump’s forthcoming book of photographs, but the portrayal is anything but flattering. The book, titled “Save America,” is set to be released on September 3 and features images from Trump’s first term in office.

Trump includes a photo of himself alongside Meta’s CEO and has included commentary that reveals his strong discontent with Zuckerberg. According to Politico, Trump’s words are pointed and critical, suggesting that Zuckerberg has been deceitful in his actions.

In the caption beneath the image, Trump accuses Zuckerberg of engaging in a “PLOT” against him, referencing the Meta CEO’s funding for election infrastructure. This initiative reportedly involved a donation of $420 million in 2020, which had previously raised alarms for Trump, who viewed it as politically motivated.

It’s unclear when Trump penned the caption, particularly since it follows Zuckerberg’s recent comments that labeled Trump a “badass.” This remark was made during a discussion about Trump’s reactions to various events, but the timing of Trump’s harsh words against Zuckerberg remains a question.

As for Zuckerberg, he has clarified his intentions regarding future contributions to election funding. In a recent letter addressed to Republican Representative Jim Jordan, he expressed that he would refrain from donating to support election infrastructure moving forward. This decision seems to stem from Republican claims that his previous contributions were advantageous to Democrats—a notion he vehemently disputes.

Zuckerberg emphasized that his goal has always been to maintain neutrality in political matters. “I know that some people believe this work benefited one party over the other,” he wrote. “My intention is to remain impartial and to avoid appearing to support any particular side.” With that, he made it clear that he wouldn’t be engaging in similar financial support during this election cycle.

Trump has not shied away from expressing his frustrations toward Zuckerberg in the past. He has criticized Meta for suspending his social media accounts following his remarks that were linked to the January 6 Capitol insurrection. After a lengthy hiatus, Meta reinstated his Facebook and Instagram accounts, albeit under new conditions. Those “new guardrails” were removed just recently, leading to further scrutiny of the situation.

During a rally in July, Trump even hinted at taking drastic measures against “election fraudsters,” directly mentioning Zuckerberg in the process. His commentary around the photo of Zuckerberg in the book also reflects his lingering resentment regarding the treatment of his social media account, with Trump stating that any illegal actions in this context could lead to severe consequences.

The relationship between Trump and Zuckerberg remains contentious, further complicated by Zuckerberg’s recent comments that reinforced his position of political neutrality. He noted that he wouldn’t endorse any candidate for the upcoming presidential election, leaving his political alliances vague.

As the release date for “Save America” approaches, the implications of Trump’s words about Zuckerberg could resonate in the ongoing political discourse. The portrayal of Zuckerberg and the strong language used by Trump highlight the complex dynamics present at the intersection of technology, social media, and politics.

Neither Meta nor Trump’s campaign has provided immediate commentary regarding the publishing of Trump’s remarks about Zuckerberg.

Source: Politico, Business Insider