The tides are turning. Not everyone is going with the Leftist party line anymore.
And now Big Tech made a major conservative shift that is sending Democrats into a tailspin.
Meta is making waves by appointing Joel Kaplan, its most prominent Republican advocate, to lead its global policy team.
Kaplan replaces Nick Clegg, a liberal stalwart, just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. The move signals a significant ideological shift for the tech giant, which has long been dominated by progressive leadership.
Kaplan, a former White House deputy chief of staff under George W. Bush, has been a vocal advocate for conservative causes within Meta. He pushed against censorship of political speech on Facebook and Instagram and spearheaded changes to the Facebook algorithm to amplify conservative voices. His ascent to the top policy role comes as Meta looks to align with the incoming Trump administration.
Clegg, who joined Facebook in 2018 amid the fallout from the Cambridge Analytica scandal, leaves behind a controversial legacy. Under his tenure, the company faced intense scrutiny over privacy issues, political bias, and its role in shaping public discourse. Before moving to the U.S., Clegg was a deputy prime minister in the U.K. and leader of the Liberal Democrats, giving him a distinctly progressive pedigree.
The timing of Meta’s leadership shift is striking, given Big Tech’s reputation for liberal leanings. It reflects a calculated effort by Meta to work with Trump’s administration as he prepares to retake the White House.
Semafor broke the story Thursday, followed by Clegg’s announcement on social media.
“As a new year begins, I have come to the view that this is the right time for me to move on from my role as President, Global Affairs at Meta,” Clegg wrote on X.
“It truly has been an adventure of a lifetime! I am proud of the work I have been able to do leading and supporting teams across the company to ensure innovation can go hand in hand with increased transparency and accountability, and with new forms of governance.”
Despite their differing political views, Clegg expressed optimism about Kaplan’s leadership.
“And I am simply thrilled that my deputy, Joel Kaplan, will now become Meta’s Chief Global Affairs Officer,” he added.
“Over the years that we have worked together, we have become good friends as well as close colleagues – I have laughed with, as well as learned from, Joel in equal measure. He is quite clearly the right person for the right job at the right time! I much look forward to spending the next few months handing over the reins to Joel before finally leaving Meta after so many enjoyable years at the company.”
Kaplan is not alone in representing conservative interests within Meta. Other key Republicans include Kevin Martin, a former FCC chairman under Bush, and general counsel Jennifer Newstead, who previously served in the Trump State Department.
This transition follows a high-profile meeting between Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Trump at Mar-a-Lago in November. Zuckerberg congratulated Trump on his election victory and expressed eagerness to collaborate with his administration. The meeting marked a thaw in relations after Trump criticized Zuckerberg during his campaign for allegedly meddling in the 2020 election by funneling over $400 million to influence voting processes.
Meta’s past actions, such as censoring COVID-19-related content at the Biden administration’s request and suppressing the Hunter Biden laptop story, have drawn sharp criticism from conservatives. Kaplan’s appointment suggests that the company may be rethinking its approach as it seeks to rebuild bridges with the Right.
Trump’s growing influence in Big Tech circles isn’t limited to Meta. Executives like Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and Apple’s Tim Cook have been courting Trump’s team, while Elon Musk, a staunch ally, is set to take on a role in the Trump administration, co-leading the Department of Government Efficiency alongside Vivek Ramaswamy.
Zuckerberg expressed gratitude for Clegg’s service and optimism for Kaplan’s leadership.
“I’m grateful for everything you’ve done for Meta and the world these past seven years,” Zuckerberg told Clegg, according to Semafor.
“I’ve learned so much working with you and our whole team is better for having this opportunity. You’ve made an important impact advancing Meta’s voice and values around the world, as well as our vision for AI and the metaverse. You’ve also built a strong team to carry this work forward. I’m excited for Joel to step into this role next given his deep experience and insight leading our policy work for many years.”
With Kaplan at the helm, Meta’s policy direction appears poised to take a conservative turn, aligning itself more closely with the political realities of Trump’s return to power.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
