Big Tech opening their wallets for Trump's inaugural fund. The latest sign of a warming relationship

between the president-elect and some of Silicon Valley leaders that he long railed against.

Dear Dobosa has more on the tech leaders kissing the ring in today's tech check. Morning, Dee.

Call it kissing the ring. You could also call it the cost of protection maybe. As we learned in Trump's

first term, a few well-aimed

tweets or outbursts, that can put your company right in the crosshairs. So the new playbook

for big tech emerging this time around, it involves visits to Mara Lago, public declarations

of support, and bigger donations to that inaugural fund. Now, so far, the fund has seen million dollar donations

from meta, Amazon, and Open AI, Sam Altman. Keep in mind that this is just so far. There's

time for others to make donations. But still, it's telling to compare it to the last two funds.

Biden's in 2021 and Trump's first one in 2017. Broadly, it shows more support for Trump this time around from some of the companies

and players with the most to lose.

According to government records, META and Altman didn't donate anything in 2017, but

they contributed a million each for 2025.

Now, Amazon, meanwhile, upping its amount ahead of Jeff Bezos's meeting next week

that Trump alluded to at the New York Stock Exchange yesterday. This is also a significant step-up

in support from those three versus the Biden fund in 2021. It's not difficult to understand why,

of course, the inaugural fund pays for the costs associated with the ceremonial and celebratory events surrounding the president's swearing in, including parades, inaugural balls.

Of course, President Trump cares deeply about crowds and fanfare.

So making a mark on this fund is another way for big tech to, as you said, kiss the ring.

And if not exactly get into his good graces, maybe at least avoid his

ire. So more of a thawing versus a warming. In Altman's case, maybe a way to counter Elon Musk's

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