According to the book, Trump ridiculed Zuckerberg and Bezos for their subservient behavior.
A newly published book presents a harsh critique of how the most influential figures in Silicon Valley interacted with Donald Trump following his return to power. The authors claim that these executives ingratiated themselves with him, and that Trump derisively mocked them behind their backs.
Titled “Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump,” the book is authored by New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan. Wired has acquired an advance copy ahead of its launch on June 23. Its assertions regarding Big Tech are notable, though the White House has not verified them.
‘Top-tier servility’
The book suggests that after the 2024 election, Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos hurried to win Trump's favor. At Mar-a-Lago, Trump allegedly revealed to Elon Musk the messages they had sent him. He is quoted as saying, “Consider where these individuals stood in 2016. They despised me ... And now look at them.”
Musk’s purported response was direct: “top-tier servility.” The authors note that Trump later told his associates the executives were “kissing my a–.” He also bragged, “You wouldn’t believe the texts I got from these tech guys.”
The letters and the anthem
Some details are particularly striking. The book claims that Zuckerberg sent Trump a text with a picture of a letter from one of his young children, expressing excitement for “the golden age of America,” reminiscent of a slogan from Trump’s campaign.
During Zuckerberg’s visit around Thanksgiving 2024, the authors state that Trump played the national anthem performed by a choir of individuals jailed for the January 6 events.
Bezos, the Post, and a jab at SpaceX
Bezos is also prominently featured. At a dinner in Mar-a-Lago, the book alleges he criticized his own publication, The Washington Post, saying, “The people there are awful. They don’t listen.” More importantly for the tech community, he supposedly urged Trump to diversify federal space contracts, asserting that reliance on a single contractor, Musk's SpaceX, posed a national-security threat.
This suggestion would have also benefitted Bezos’s own company, Blue Origin, which has had long-standing disagreements with SpaceX over federal contracts. According to the authors, Trump indicated he would consider it but ultimately did not, instead repairing his relationship with Musk and expanding SpaceX’s operations.
Importance of the claims
None of these details have been confirmed, and the book consists of claims rather than verified evidence. The White House did not respond to specific inquiries but stated that Trump aims to collaborate with “every American business … to reinforce America’s innovative leadership.” Nonetheless, the narrative highlights a pressing theme: the rapid shift of Silicon Valley toward Trump post-election. The same individuals appeared in the front row at his inauguration.
If the book's assertions are accurate, Trump relished the show but held it in contempt. It also serves as a reminder of the complex and intertwined relationship between Bezos, Musk, and Trump.
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According to a book, Trump ridiculed Zuckerberg and Bezos for their subservient behavior.
A recent book by Haberman & Swan alleges that Trump privately ridiculed Zuckerberg and Bezos for seeking his approval, presenting Musk with their messages as examples of "first-class groveling."
According to the book, Trump ridiculed Zuckerberg and Bezos for their subservient behavior.
A recent book by Haberman & Swan alleges that Trump privately mocked Zuckerberg and Bezos for seeking his approval, revealing Musk their messages as examples of "first-class groveling."