Book Claims Trump Told Elon Musk: Mark Zuckerberg And Jeff Bezos Hated Me In 2016, 'Now Look At Them'

Last Updated:June 19, 2026, 16:02 IST

Book Regime Change says Donald Trump mocked Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos for seeking closer ties after opposing him in 2016, calling their outreach first class groveling.

US President Donald Trump privately mocked the efforts of tech billionaires Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos to build closer ties with him after his return to power, according to a new book by New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan.

The book, Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump, claims Trump boasted about how his relationship with some of Silicon Valley’s most influential figures had dramatically changed since his first presidential campaign in 2016.

According to the authors, Trump told Elon Musk that Zuckerberg and Bezos had once opposed him but were now trying to strengthen ties with his administration.

“Think of where these guys were in 2016. They hated me. They were doing everything they could to knock me down. And look at them now," Trump is quoted as saying.

Trump Allegedly Shared Messages From Tech Leaders

The book claims Trump frequently showed associates messages he received from prominent technology executives and mocked what he viewed as their efforts to gain influence with his administration.

According to the authors, Trump often highlighted outreach from major tech figures and portrayed their attempts to engage with him as evidence of his growing political influence.

The book further alleges that Trump described some of the outreach efforts as “first-class groveling" during conversations with Musk.

Zuckerberg, Bezos Outreach Detailed

According to the book, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg made several efforts to improve relations with Trump following the 2024 election, including sending personal messages and maintaining regular contact.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is also said to have sought greater engagement with the administration while discussing business and policy issues affecting his companies.

The authors argue that the outreach reflected a broader shift in how major technology leaders approached Trump’s second term.

Changing Relationship Between Trump And Big Tech

The reported exchanges highlight the evolving relationship between Trump and some of the most powerful figures in the technology industry.

Several executives who were previously critical of Trump or maintained distance from him have increasingly sought engagement with the White House since his return to office, according to the book.

The claims offer a glimpse into the interactions between political power and Silicon Valley as technology companies navigate a rapidly changing regulatory and political environment.

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