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Billionaires Zuckerberg, Bezos and Musk to Share Platform at Trump’s Inauguration

HeadlineJan 15, 2025

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg outlined plans Tuesday to lay off 5% of the social media company’s global workforce — or about 3,600 people. The mass layoffs come just days after Zuckerberg announced Meta would end fact-checking across its Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram platforms. This comes as Zuckerberg is planning to co-host a black-tie reception Monday with Republican megadonor Miriam Adelson to celebrate Trump’s inauguration; Meta also gave $1 million to the Trump inaugural fund.

Zuckerberg will have a prominent position at Trump’s inauguration, seated near fellow multibillionaires Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, among Trump’s Cabinet nominees and elected officials. Former first lady Michelle Obama said she would not be attending Monday’s inauguration. The Office of Barack and Michelle Obama refused to comment on her absence. A statement from the Obamas reads in part, “This is obviously not the outcome we had hoped for, given our profound disagreements with the Republican ticket on a whole host of issues. But living in a democracy is about recognizing that our point of view won’t always win out, and being willing to accept the peaceful transfer of power.”

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