Trump mocked tech titans who sucked up to him after 2024 election win, new book claims

As Donald Trump secured his victory in the 2024 presidential election, a rush of tech billionaires sought to gain favor with the incoming administration. However, according to a new book by New York Times journalists Jonathan Swan and Maggie Haberman, Trump spent much of his time behind their backs mocking their desperate attempts to get on his good side.

Tech Titans Under the Microscope

Details regarding these interactions appear in Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump. As reported by Wired, Trump found the display of submission from Silicon Valley's elite to be a spectacle worth sharing with his inner circle.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was among those attempting to pivot his relationship with the president-elect. During a dinner at Mar-a-Lago in December 2024, Trump confronted Bezos about the coverage from The Washington Post. In a surprising turn, Bezos reportedly trashed his own staff, labeling them as "terrible" and suggesting his purchase of the newspaper was one of his worst investments. "The people there are terrible. They don't listen," Bezos reportedly stated.

Fawning Texts and Political Shifts

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg also sought to build a bridge, allegedly texting Trump a letter written by one of his children about the upcoming "golden age of America." Despite these efforts, Trump remained unimpressed, reportedly telling an associate, "You would not believe the texts I got from these tech guys. I've got to show you."

The book highlights that Trump took particular notice of how far these executives had shifted since his initial 2016 campaign. He reportedly remarked to Elon Musk—his largest 2024 campaign contributor—about the irony of the situation: "Think of where these guys were in 2016. They hated me. They were doing everything they could to knock me down. And look at them now."

The power dynamic became even more apparent when Bezos later requested that Trump alter the government contracting process to benefit his space company, Blue Horizon. While Trump told Bezos he would consider the request, he never moved forward with the changes as he prioritized his alliance with Musk. 205focus.com readers can find more insight when Regime Change hits shelves on June 23.