Meta’s Chief Executive Officer, Mark Zuckerberg, went to Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to try to persuade senators on Artificial Intelligence. He sought to rally his support after standing with the President at his inauguration and affirming his support for the Republican congressional majority’s social agenda.
The meeting took place one day after his personal charity said it ended core programs that touched on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Zuckerberg had earlier closed shop on some of Meta’s diversity efforts days before President Trump’s inauguration. Trump’s administration and Republican lawmakers have made eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion a priority.
Zuckerberg drives Meta’s AI expansion and pushes for regulatory influence
Meta is undergoing a massive transformation into a company that incorporates AI, which is a central theme in its investment projects. The company is nurturing the growth of AI-based product lines, e.g., smarter glasses and headsets.
In 2025, Meta allocated $65 billion for AI-focused strategies. This has solidified its position in the global AI industry and reinforced its stake in shaping future AI regulations.
Last year, Zuckerberg said the firm was “taking the next steps toward open-source AI becoming the industry standard” with the release of Llama 3.1, which he described as the first “frontier-level open-source AI model.”
AI technology has become a focal point for many tech companies, driven by the growing popularity of AI models from OpenAI, Meta, and Anthropic. Nvidia, a leading producer of GPUs—specialized chips essential for training AI models—achieved one of the highest market capitalizations in 2024 and is now valued at approximately $3.6 trillion.
Meta spokesperson Andy Stone provided only a general overview of the CEO’s discussions and refused to disclose the senators Zuckerberg met with.
Andy refused to divulge the identity of the senators they met. He only stated that Zuckerberg is on the Hill talking to members about issues, including AI and American tech leadership.
Zuckerberg and Meta urge the White House to oppose EU’s digital services act
Zuckerberg is concerned that the Digital Service Act is a censorship law, supporting a conservative talking point. He said he would work with President Trump to “push back on governments going after American companies and pushing to censor more.”
Joel Kaplan, Meta’s global policy chief, attended a Munich Security Conference last weekend and said that Meta is seeking help from the White House to navigate the regulatory crackdown in Europe.
He noted that when companies receive different treatment bordering discrimination, they are bound to report to their home governments.
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