As former President Donald Trump begins his second term, Rolling Stone reports that America’s wealthiest elites have abandoned even the pretense of caring about social justice, democracy, or the vulnerable. Monday’s inauguration, held inside the U.S. Capitol, was more than just a political event—it was a coronation of oligarchic power, with billionaires like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg among the exclusive attendees.
The ceremony, relocated to the Capitol rotunda due to cold weather, exuded exclusivity, with only the wealthiest and most loyal Trump supporters granted access. Figures like Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Apple CEO Tim Cook, and UFC President Dana White sat alongside conservative pundits Joe Rogan, Tucker Carlson, and Turning Point USA’s Charlie Kirk. Former presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush were present but relegated to less prominent seats, symbolizing the diminishing influence of traditional political power in the face of Trump’s billionaire-backed reign.
The day was marked by a series of executive orders that encapsulate Trump’s agenda: abolishing birthright citizenship, cutting off asylum claims, revoking federal recognition of transgender Americans, and withdrawing from climate agreements. Trump also issued 1,500 pardons, including to Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and other January 6 rioters.
While corporate America once feigned outrage at Trump’s excesses, those days are over. Rolling Stone notes that major companies, once critical of Trump after the Capitol insurrection, have now cozied up to his administration. Meta, Facebook’s parent company, once decried Trump’s actions on January 6 but has since ended its fact-checking program and dissolved diversity initiatives. Amazon, which donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund, has similarly walked back commitments to social equity, all while securing government contracts under the new administration.
Elon Musk has emerged as a key ally of Trump’s presidency, pouring $153 million into Trump’s campaign through a super PAC. His net worth has soared since the election, aided by his new role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump initiative aimed at slashing federal spending while funneling lucrative contracts to tech giants. Musk’s SpaceX also stands to gain from Trump’s promise to “pursue our manifest destiny into the stars,” with a renewed push to land astronauts on Mars.
Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and Blue Origin, has also found common ground with Trump, despite their previously fraught relationship. Bezos killed The Washington Post’s planned endorsement of Kamala Harris before the election and has since used the platform to support Trump’s cabinet nominees. Rolling Stone highlights that Amazon has deleted public commitments to LGBTQ+ and racial equity, signaling a retreat from social advocacy in favor of maintaining access to Trump’s administration.
Mark Zuckerberg, once a target of Trump’s ire, has similarly aligned himself with the president. After meeting Trump at Mar-a-Lago, Zuckerberg’s Meta announced the end of its diversity programs and loosened content moderation policies, allowing hate speech targeting marginalized groups.
The report paints a grim picture of the new social contract: America’s billionaires no longer feel the need to offer cultural wins or gestures of concern for the broader public. Instead, the ultra-wealthy have embraced Trump’s agenda, which prioritizes tax cuts, deregulation, and the scapegoating of vulnerable communities.
As Rolling Stone notes, the cruelty is part of the appeal. Trump’s policies, from mass deportations to Medicaid cuts, serve to punish the poor while enriching the elite. Even Trump’s foray into cryptocurrency, which saw him launch a meme coin and become a crypto billionaire overnight, underscores the grift that defines his presidency.
This era of unmasked oligarchy highlights a chilling reality: America’s wealthiest no longer pretend to care. They’ve aligned with Trump, knowing his policies will protect their interests. In Trump’s America, the rich can do what they want—and they’re not hiding it anymore.
