Former President Donald Trump has escalated his rhetoric against Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, threatening severe legal consequences if Zuckerberg interferes in the 2024 presidential election. In an excerpt from his forthcoming book, Save America, Trump accuses Zuckerberg of plotting against him and warns that any illegal activities will result in life imprisonment.
The inflammatory remarks come as part of a broader critique in which Trump alleges that Zuckerberg, along with his wife Priscilla Chan, played a role in swaying the 2020 presidential election in favor of Joe Biden. Trump's accusations are centered on the couple's $400 million donations to non-partisan organizations aimed at supporting election infrastructure during the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds were intended to help various local election offices handle the surge in mail-in ballots and ensure safe voting procedures, rather than to directly influence the election results or Biden's campaign.
Trump's book excerpt, revealed first by Politico, includes a claim that Zuckerberg, during his time in the Oval Office, maintained a façade of cordiality while secretly working against Trump. "He would come to the Oval Office to see me, bringing his very nice wife to dinners, while always plotting to install shameful Lock Boxes in a true PLOT AGAINST THE PRESIDENT," Trump writes. He further asserts that Zuckerberg's actions were part of a broader scheme, declaring, "We are watching him closely, and if he does anything illegal this time he will spend the rest of his life in prison-as will others who cheat in the 2024 Presidential Election."
Despite these accusations, fact-checking reports have clarified that the $400 million contributed by Zuckerberg and Chan was directed to non-partisan organizations rather than to any specific political campaign. Ben LaBolt, a spokesperson for Zuckerberg and Chan, emphasized that the funds were used to ensure fair access to voting across various jurisdictions, which included urban, suburban, and rural areas. "Mark and Priscilla provided funding to two non-partisan organizations that helped cities and states ensure that residents could vote regardless of their party or preference," LaBolt stated.
Trump's book, published by Winning Team Publishing, will retail at $99 for an unsigned copy and $400 for a signed edition. It includes a photo purportedly showing Zuckerberg in the White House, accompanied by a caption that reinforces Trump's narrative of subterfuge.
This recent outburst is part of a series of attacks Trump has directed at Zuckerberg. In July, Trump vowed to pursue alleged election fraudsters "at levels never seen before," signaling a broader campaign against perceived electoral injustices. His rhetoric has included warnings directed at Zuckerberg and other figures he accuses of tampering with the electoral process.
In addition to his book's claims, Trump has seized on Zuckerberg's recent disclosures to Congress, in which Zuckerberg acknowledged past mistakes regarding content moderation and government influence. Zuckerberg's letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan expressed regret over the tech giant's handling of COVID-19 misinformation and its interactions with the Biden administration. Trump has used these disclosures to bolster his claims of electoral interference, despite the lack of direct evidence supporting such allegations.
The Biden administration has defended its actions, stating that its guidance aimed to ensure responsible handling of public health information rather than influencing election outcomes. A White House spokesperson emphasized that the administration's approach was focused on protecting public health and safety, not on election interference.
