The tech industry's unwavering support for Donald Trump has reached a boiling point after the gruesome killings in Minneapolis. Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook CEO, once vowed to be a voice against hate and intolerance; however, under Trump's presidency, his social media platform became a hub for spreading divisive rhetoric.
Tim Cook, Apple CEO, was seen lavishing praise on Trump at a White House screening of a $40 million vanity documentary about the first lady, Melania. He even gifted her a golden trophy worth billions of dollars to Apple shareholders. This lavish gesture, alongside millions contributed by his peers in the tech industry to Trump's inauguration and presidential library, suggests that many CEOs have compromised their values for short-term gains.
CEO Jeff Bezos initially drew flak when he bought The Washington Post with expectations of molding its opinion pages into a Trump cheerleader. Meanwhile, Zuckerberg had previously cofounded an advocacy group pushing for immigration reform before cutting ties and adopting a more conciliatory approach towards the president.
But following Alex Pretti's tragic death in Minneapolis, some executives have started to speak out against Trump's policies. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, shared a message expressing his disdain towards ICE's actions but also expressed his admiration for Trump as a "very strong leader." However, this statement was widely seen as insincere, particularly given Pretti's family being from the same region.
Altman's caution and hesitation indicate that some executives are struggling to express their true feelings amidst fear of repercussions. Yet, companies like Anthropic have started voicing their discontent with Trump's actions. Their CEO, Daniela Amodei, wrote on LinkedIn about the importance of freedom of speech, civil liberties, and human decency in American democracy.
Cook, Apple's former chief executive, has undergone a change of heart since Pretti's death. In an internal memo that leaked to the public, he expressed sympathy for those affected by the tragic event and claimed to have shared his views with the president during their conversation. This move has been perceived as a sign of Cook's newfound willingness to speak truth to power.
While some CEOs continue to walk the tightrope between objecting to Trump's policies and cooperating with the federal government, there is hope that others will follow suit in supporting Pretti's family and advocating for change. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether these actions will have a lasting impact on the tech industry and its stance towards the Trump administration.
Tim Cook, Apple CEO, was seen lavishing praise on Trump at a White House screening of a $40 million vanity documentary about the first lady, Melania. He even gifted her a golden trophy worth billions of dollars to Apple shareholders. This lavish gesture, alongside millions contributed by his peers in the tech industry to Trump's inauguration and presidential library, suggests that many CEOs have compromised their values for short-term gains.
CEO Jeff Bezos initially drew flak when he bought The Washington Post with expectations of molding its opinion pages into a Trump cheerleader. Meanwhile, Zuckerberg had previously cofounded an advocacy group pushing for immigration reform before cutting ties and adopting a more conciliatory approach towards the president.
But following Alex Pretti's tragic death in Minneapolis, some executives have started to speak out against Trump's policies. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, shared a message expressing his disdain towards ICE's actions but also expressed his admiration for Trump as a "very strong leader." However, this statement was widely seen as insincere, particularly given Pretti's family being from the same region.
Altman's caution and hesitation indicate that some executives are struggling to express their true feelings amidst fear of repercussions. Yet, companies like Anthropic have started voicing their discontent with Trump's actions. Their CEO, Daniela Amodei, wrote on LinkedIn about the importance of freedom of speech, civil liberties, and human decency in American democracy.
Cook, Apple's former chief executive, has undergone a change of heart since Pretti's death. In an internal memo that leaked to the public, he expressed sympathy for those affected by the tragic event and claimed to have shared his views with the president during their conversation. This move has been perceived as a sign of Cook's newfound willingness to speak truth to power.
While some CEOs continue to walk the tightrope between objecting to Trump's policies and cooperating with the federal government, there is hope that others will follow suit in supporting Pretti's family and advocating for change. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether these actions will have a lasting impact on the tech industry and its stance towards the Trump administration.
. I mean, come on, CEOs are only coming out of the woodwork now that someone actually died because of Trump's policies? It feels like they're trying to save face after being total yes-men for years. I'm not convinced by their sudden change of heart, especially Altman's 
. He was too quick to praise Trump as a "strong leader" and it just didn't sit right with me. And what about all the money they contributed to Trump's inauguration and library? It's not like they were waiting for someone to die before speaking out. Companies like Anthropic are finally saying something, but I want to see more from them. Can we get some real change here or is this just a PR stunt? 
. One minute they're all about promoting positivity and freedom of speech, and the next they're practically kissing up to Trump? It's like they've got two different identities or something 
. Mark Zuckerberg was supposed to be a voice for good, but now he seems more concerned with keeping his company's stock on the rise 
. And what's up with Tim Cook's sycophantic behavior towards Melania? Did someone put a price tag on his head too? 
It's like they're all just trying to appease Trump so they don't get caught in the crossfire 
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! Her piece on LinkedIn was super refreshing and needed more voices like hers. It's time for these CEOs to stop being afraid of speaking truth to power and start using their platforms for good 
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. And I'd love to see more companies like Anthropic taking a stand 
. It's not going to be easy, but if they can do it, we might just have a chance at creating some real change 
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. But at the same time, I'm worried about the timing of these statements - is it just a PR stunt or are they genuinely committed to change? 
. But it's also frustrating to see some of them struggling to express their true feelings. Maybe they're scared of losing business or facing backlash... but someone's gotta speak up 
. The contrast between their past actions and current statements is stark. Mark Zuckerberg's advocacy group, which once pushed for immigration reform, now seems like a distant memory. Meanwhile, companies like Anthropic are speaking out against Trump's policies 
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. The tech industry has a significant influence on our society, and their actions have real-world consequences. We can't afford to see this as a temporary phase or a mere PR stunt 
. The question is: will they continue to prioritize profits over principles? Only time will tell 
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and Tim Cook's golden trophy gift was straight outta a bad action movie 
. And what's with Jeff Bezos and his Washington Post purchase? trying to curry favor with Trump by buying up the press? not cool, dude 
it's about time some of these CEOs found their voices after Alex Pretti's passing. And Cook's internal memo... now he's talking 
it just goes to show that even the tech industry can be called out for their complicity in trump's hate speech. lets see more of these CEOs stand up and make a change!!!
how some big CEOs are finally starting to speak out against Trump's policies but at the same time their words don't always match their actions 
and I'm glad to see companies like Anthropic being more outspoken about human decency and freedom of speech 
. Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cook, Jeff Bezos... they all had opportunities to make a difference but instead chose to line their pockets with cash from Trump's inauguration and presidential library 
️. Can't wait to see how this plays out in the long run 
. Those Execs need a reality check, you know? Mark Zuckerberg used to be all about spreading love and acceptance, but now he's just enabling the hate machine 
. And don't even get me started on Trump's ego 
, like Daniela Amodei at Anthropic 
meanwhile, these same CEOs who were all about 'being a voice against hate' now seem pretty quiet 
But it's also true that some CEOs are trying to have their cake and eat it too. Like Altman, who's basically saying he loves Trump as a leader but not his policies 
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