US President Donald Trump joked with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg during a White House dinner with leading tech executives, suggesting the exchange could mark the start of Mark Zuckerberg’s “political career.”
After a reporter asked Mark Zuckerberg about free speech concerns in Britain, Donald Trump quipped, “This is the beginning of your political career.”
The Meta founder quickly shot back, “No, it’s not.”
Mark Zuckerberg told the President he “wasn’t ready” to answer the reporter’s question. As journalists left the room, he added, “Sorry, I wasn’t ready.”
Donald Trump laughed and repeated the remark to First Lady Melania Trump, who was seated nearby.
President Trump: “This is the beginning of your political career.”
Mark Zuckerberg: “No it’s not.”
President Trump jokes with Facebook founder and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg after a reporter asks the two about free speech concerns during a White House event with tech leaders. pic.twitter.com/ZUeYiTXAEs
— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 5, 2025
Tech Leaders At The White House
The dinner was attended by some of Silicon Valley’s biggest names, including Apple’s Tim Cook, Microsoft’s Satya Nadella and Bill Gates, Google’s Sundar Pichai and OpenAI’s Sam Altman. At the event, the President asked executives how much they planned to invest in the United States. Tim Cook pledged $600 billion, which Mark Zuckerberg said Meta would match while Sundar Pichai committed $250 billion over the next two years and Satya Nadella confirmed between $75 and $80 billion this year.
“I want to thank you for setting the tone such that we could make a major investment in the United States,” Tim Cook said, praising Donald Trump’s “focus on innovation.”
“That’s great, that’s great,” Donald Trump replied, adding, “We’re proud of you. Thank you. A lot of jobs, a lot of jobs.”
