Additional Coverage:
- Mark Zuckerberg is reportedly hunting for a home in Washington, D.C. to be even closer to the commander-in-chief and his inner circle (newsbreak.com)
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is reportedly house hunting in Washington, D.C. Sources say he’s aiming to be closer to the Trump administration as it shapes policies impacting the tech industry.
This potential move comes after a tumultuous relationship between the two men. President Trump previously threatened Zuckerberg, while the Meta CEO suspended Trump’s social media accounts after the January 6th riot.
However, their relationship appears to have thawed. They dined together at Mar-a-Lago before Thanksgiving, and Meta donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration. Zuckerberg also held a prominent seat at the event.
Zuckerberg’s interest in D.C. real estate follows Trump’s announcement of a $500 billion artificial intelligence infrastructure project. Meta, heavily invested in AI, recently increased its annual spending to $65 billion, partly to expand its data centers.
Since the election, Zuckerberg has made several notable moves. He ended fact-checking on Facebook and Instagram, appointed Trump ally Dana White to Meta’s board, and named prominent Republican Joel Kaplan as chief global affairs officer.
Zuckerberg isn’t alone in his D.C. search. Several wealthy Trump appointees are also buying or seeking homes in the capital.
These include Howard Lutnick, tapped for commerce secretary, and Scott Bessent, confirmed as Treasury secretary. David Sacks, Trump’s pick for a newly created AI and crypto czar position, recently bought a D.C. home as well.