In a surprising twist that underscores the shifting dynamics between Big Tech and Washington power, Google co-founder Sergey Brin dined with President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday night.
The meeting comes as a striking departure from Brin's past criticisms of Trump and his policies, signaling how Silicon Valley's elite may be rethinking their strategies in the face of a second Trump administration.
Brin, whose net worth hovers around $146 billion, has previously been vocal about his distaste for Trump. In a leaked 2016 video, Brin described Trump’s victory as “deeply offensive” and at odds with many of Google's core values. As an immigrant and refugee himself, Brin had expressed personal dismay over Trump’s policies, urging his employees to reflect on the election’s impact. Yet, just years later, Brin found himself across the dinner table from Trump, reportedly engaging in what sources described as "frank discussions."
Brin isn’t alone in what appears to be a recalibration among tech titans. Elon Musk, once a self-described Trump critic, has become a fixture in the president-elect’s orbit, regularly attending meetings and reportedly offering policy input.
Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg recently dined with Trump, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is rumored to be next in line. This flurry of high-profile meetings suggests that Big Tech leaders are looking to build bridges—or at least protect their interests—in an era where Trump has positioned himself as a staunch critic of their power.
The irony of Brin’s visit isn’t lost on observers, given the contentious relationship between Trump and Google in recent years. Trump filed lawsuits against Google and Meta in 2021, accusing them of censorship after he was banned from their platforms.
More recently, he took to Truth Social to denounce Google as a “Crooked, Election Interference Machine,” accusing the company of unfairly favoring Democrats in their ad practices. Yet, Brin’s decision to meet Trump suggests that even amid ongoing tensions, tech leaders recognize the need to engage directly with the president-elect.
Adding to the intrigue is the tangled web of personal and professional connections in Trump’s expanding circle. Brin’s visit comes amid persistent rumors about tensions involving Musk, who has become one of Trump’s closest allies.
Musk’s alleged affair with Brin’s ex-wife, Nicole Shanahan, has been a tabloid fixture, although all parties involved have denied the claims. If there were any lingering awkwardness, it didn’t stop Brin from showing up at Trump’s Palm Beach estate.