In his upcoming book, “Save America,” former US President Donald Trump has leveled serious accusations against Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, claiming the tech mogul plotted against him during the 2020 presidential election. Trump, who lost the election to Joe Biden, alleges that Zuckerberg’s actions amounted to a “plot against the president” despite his outwardly friendly demeanor.
Trump’s accusations, which he has made repeatedly in the past, come at a time when Meta is actively seeking to reassure conservatives that it will not interfere in the 2024 presidential election. In his book, Trump describes Zuckerberg’s visits to the White House, including social events with his wife, Priscilla Chan. However, Trump claims these interactions were a facade, alleging Zuckerberg was secretly working against him.
The former president’s claims are based on his belief that Zuckerberg manipulated Facebook’s algorithms to suppress content that could have benefitted his campaign. He specifically mentions Zuckerberg’s $420 million contribution to election infrastructure during the 2020 election, claiming that Zuckerberg, despite publicly praising Trump, secretly worked against him.
In a scathing warning, Trump threatened legal action against Zuckerberg if he repeats his alleged actions in 2024. “We are watching him closely, and if he does anything illegal this time he will spend the rest of his life in prison — as will others who cheat in the 2024 Presidential Election,” Trump wrote, according to excerpts obtained by Politico.
This isn’t the first time Trump has publicly accused Zuckerberg of interfering in elections. In July, he wrote on Truth Social that if re-elected, he would pursue “ELECTION FRAUDSTERS at levels never seen before, and they will be sent to prison for long periods of time. We already know who you are. DON’T DO IT! ZUCKERBUCKS, be careful!”
Trump’s accusations echo concerns raised by Republicans who have long criticized Meta for allegedly suppressing content unfavorable to Biden during the 2020 election. Zuckerberg himself acknowledged in a letter to the Republican-controlled House Judiciary Committee that Meta had made a mistake by suppressing stories related to Hunter Biden, Biden’s son. However, he insists that Meta was not intentionally suppressing information about Biden and that the decision was made based on what was believed to be Russian disinformation. Zuckerberg also alleged in the letter that the Biden administration attempted to pressure Meta to downplay certain COVID-19 content, claiming this was inappropriate.
Trump’s “Save America” is set to be published on September 3rd by Winning Team Publishing, a company co-founded by his son Donald Trump Jr. and Trump ally, Sergio Gor. The book features a photo of Trump and Zuckerberg in the Oval Office, which Trump uses as a visual illustration of his accusations against the Meta CEO.
