Trump mocked Bezos, Zuckerberg's attempts to win him, book reveals
What's the story
In a new book by New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, it has been revealed that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos tried to win over the US President Donald Trump after his 2024 election victory. The book, titled Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump, details these attempts and how Trump mocked Bezos and Zuckerberg's efforts.
Tech titans
Trump's reaction to Zuckerberg's attempts
Zuckerberg had once sent Trump a photo of a letter penned by one of his young children. The child expressed excitement for the "golden age of America," a phrase Trump had often used during his campaign rallies. Weeks after their meeting, Trump was still telling associates how Zuckerberg and Bezos were "kissing my ass," according to the book.
Proposal
Bezos's dinner-time critique of The Washington Post
The book also details a dinner between Trump and Bezos in December 2024. During a dinner at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club, Bezos criticized The Washington Post to Trump. He even called the newspaper one of his worst financial investments. This was months before he unsuccessfully asked the president for a business favor. During the meal, Trump told Bezos, "This Washington Post is really unfair. You've got to take better care," to which Bezos complained about the business side of the newspaper.
Information
Bezos makes business proposal to Trump
Later, in July 2025, Bezos made a business proposal to Trump that could have benefited his space company Blue Origin, but it never materialized as Trump reconciled with Elon Musk, who had started donating again to Republicans.
Mockery
Trump's mockery and 'fawning texts' from Zuckerberg
The book reveals how Trump often ridiculed Zuckerberg and Bezos. He even showed guests some of the fawning texts he received from the Meta CEO. When Zuckerberg visited shortly after Thanksgiving 2024, Trump played a special version of the national anthem sung by a choir of jailed January 6 rioters known as the J6 Prison Choir.