Trump alleges Zuckerberg conspired against him in 2020 elections
What's the story
Former United States President Donald Trump has accused Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg of undermining his campaign during the 2020 elections.
The allegations are detailed in Trump's forthcoming book, Save America, set to be released on September 3.
In the book, Trump shares an image of a meeting with Zuckerberg at the White House and expresses his discontent over the election results.
Context
Why does this story matter?
This comes after Zuckerberg's recent acknowledgment that the current Joe Biden-Kamala Harris administration exerted pressure on Facebook to censor specific COVID-19 content.
Notably, it's not the first time Trump has targeted major tech companies; previously, his team claimed that Google was manipulating search results related to him in the days leading up to the election.
Alleged conspiracy
Trump's book details Zuckerberg's alleged plot
Trump also issued a stern warning in his book, stating that anyone found guilty of illegal activities in the upcoming 2024 Presidential Election could face life imprisonment.
Additionally, Trump alleges that despite Zuckerberg's friendly demeanor and frequent visits to the Oval Office with his wife, Priscilla Chan, he was secretly scheming against him.
The former President suggests this plot involved the use of "shameful Lock Boxes."
Election involvement
Zuckerberg's stance on 2024 election
This accusation appears to reference the $420 million donation made by Zuckerberg and Chan for election setup during the 2020 elections.
Separately, Zuckerberg has clarified his intention to remain neutral in the 2024 election, stating that he will not financially support either President Biden or ex-President Trump.
In contrast, Tesla CEO Elon Musk is reportedly aligning with Trump's team for the upcoming elections.
Politics
Republicans critical of Meta's actions
Republicans have often criticized Meta's actions, such as when it initially limited The Post's major story about Hunter Biden's laptop and allegedly collaborated with the government to regulate certain COVID-19 content.
At that time, the FBI suggested the news could have been part of a Russian effort to interfere with the election.