Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has publicly praised former President Donald Trump’s response to a recent assassination attempt, describing it as “badass” and inspiring. In an interview with Bloomberg, Mark Zuckerberg recounted how Trump, who was shot at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, displayed resilience by pumping his fist in the air with the American flag despite the severity of the attack. “Seeing Donald Trump get up after getting shot in the face and pump his fist in the air with the American flag is one of the most badass things I’ve ever seen in my life,” Mark Zuckerberg stated.
This praise came after a gunman fired at Trump during the rally, grazing his right ear. The image of a bleeding yet defiant Trump, surrounded by security agents, has since become iconic. Despite the admiration for Trump’s immediate reaction, Mark Zuckerberg emphasized that he would not endorse Trump for the upcoming presidential election nor be involved in it. He made it clear that his comments were purely personal and not indicative of political support.
Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged Trump’s strong appeal to many Americans, reflecting on the emotional impact of Trump’s reaction. “At some level as an American, it’s hard to not, like, get kind of emotional about that spirit and that fight. And I think that’s why a lot of people like the guy,” Mark Zuckerberg noted.
The Meta CEO’s comments come amid increasing public support for Trump from various influential figures in Silicon Valley, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk and venture capitalists Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz. However, Mark Zuckerberg’s remarks stand out as he refrained from aligning himself politically with Trump, despite the former president’s earlier criticism of Mark Zuckerberg and Meta’s handling of his social media accounts.
Trump’s recent threats against Mark Zuckerberg, including a suggestion on Truth Social that he would send Mark Zuckerberg to prison if elected, have added to the tension between the two figures. Additionally, Trump has previously accused Mark Zuckerberg of privately praising him during White House meetings, though Mark Zuckerberg has not confirmed these claims.
Mark Zuckerberg’s comments follow a history of Meta’s actions against Trump’s posts, including a two-year suspension of his accounts after the January 2021 Capitol riots. Trump’s accounts were reinstated on Facebook and Instagram last year.
Overall, Mark Zuckerberg’s tribute to Trump’s reaction, while notable, is framed as a personal sentiment rather than a political endorsement, underscoring his intention to remain neutral in the upcoming election.
