Tech Titans at Church With Trump: Is the White House Turning Into Big Tech HQ?
22nd Jan 2025
Entrepreneurs and Moguls were seen in church with Donald Trump and his family on Monday morning, as well as attending the inauguration, with many Americans worrying about the potential influence of Silicon Valley on the returning president.
Silicon Valley Takes a Front Row at Trump’s Inauguration
We saw moguls, including Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and Tim Cook, all sitting behind Trump’s family, and all were given front-row seats as Trump was sworn in as the 47th president.
They had attended St. John’s Episcopal Church in Washington D.C. on Monday, something that many former presidents have done, but none with the level of business leaders present, with people questioning the motivations of those getting even closer to Trump.
The church also saw Google CEO Sundar Pichai and podcaster (and Joe Rogan, a former spokesperson for New Atheist beliefs). Rogan’s podcast exposure may have helped Trump to win the election, as he took to digital media to spread his message.
How Trump’s Second Act Is Redefining the Presidency
Many were surprised that Elon Musk was not in attendance due to the fact that he has become so entrenched in the United States’ political world. Musk, along with the other Big Tech bosses at the service, have all been given contracts with the government and thirteen of the country’s billionaires will even take up roles within the Trump White House.
People are concerned about the influence that these figures have had, and in the flurry of news from the inauguration came the fact that Trump now says the US should go to Mars as soon as possible, potentially impacting other missions to the Moon which are already in progress. Musk has shown his obsession with Mars on many occasions and the SpaceX founder may have led Trump in this. Musk said:
“I mean, can you imagine how awesome it will be to have American astronauts plant the flag on another planet for the first time? How inspiring would that be.”
This seems to have informed Trump, who said in the second address that the U.S. “will pursue our Manifest Destiny into the stars.”
Musk’s control of the Department of Government Efficiency will see the entrepreneur given a lot more control in the coming years and people are suggesting he could be in control of contracts awarded by NASA, too, which he may well pass the way of his own companies.
Rupert Murdoch was also given endorsement and support from The New York Post, owned by media mogul Rupert Murdoch.
“America is ready for today’s heroic Donald Trump to reclaim the presidency,” an opinion piece in the paper had said. Murdoch was also present at the inauguration.
The Washington Post had been met with criticism for taking a different approach as they stopped endorsing presidential candidates, for this election at least. CEO William Lewis said: “We recognise that this will be read in a range of ways, including as a tacit endorsement of one candidate, or as a condemnation of another, or as an abdication of responsibility. That is inevitable.
“We don’t see it that way. We see it as consistent with the values The Post has always stood for and what we hope for in a leader.”
Trump’s Government to Make Changes
Trump seems to have returned with a single-minded attitude as he looks to do things his way. He has already pardoned some of the insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol in 2021.
Joe Biden also had to take actions preemptively including preemptive pardons early Monday for figures including Gen. Mark Milley and Dr. Anthony Fauci. These are people Trump has suggested he will target in his Presidency.
In a move that sits uneasily with a lot of people, Trump also seems to be capitalising on the publicity to launch his own cryptocurrency, something that has been seen as a risky act and one that could even have economic impacts.
The $TRUMP coin became one of the most traded coins after launch. Axios explained that 80% of the coins are owned by CIC Digital LLC, a company that’s an affiliate of the Trump Organization, and Fight Fight Fight LLC, also owned by Trump’s company. Some have accused Trump as abusing his presidency to literally print money.
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