Title: Tech Titans and Politics: The New Church of Power
In the run-up to Donald Trump's inauguration as the 47th president, tech titans like Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and Tim Cook were spotted alongside Trump's family at church. This occurrence serves as a potent reminder of the USA's impending transition into an era rife with uncertainty, with Trump set to take office at midday ET.
Trump attended St. John's Episcopal Church in Washington DC, a custom followed by presidents such as Obama and Bush. However, these leaders didn't have business magnates potentially benefiting from their administration's decisions filling the church pews.
Photographer Anna Moneymaker captured these opulent scenes from within the church. Joining the tech elite were individuals like Zuckerberg, Bezos, Cook, Google's Sundar Pichai, and popular podcaster Joe Rogan.
Zuckerberg, Bezos, and Cook largely appeared to be seated together in one row. Lauren Sanchez, Bezos's partner, was nestled between former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in another row (as reported by the Washington Post). Surprisingly absent from this event was Elon Musk, although his business interests heavily rely on government contracts.
The political spectacle of such corporate titans attending church was met with affirmation from CNBC commentator Chris Sununu, who praised the gathering of CEOs instead of "bureaucrats," implying that CEOs are more capable of managing the nation.
The Washington Post and other outlets reported Joe Rogan's proximity to the incoming president and Rupert Murdoch's presence - the 93-year-old media mogul controlling a wide swathe of conservative media outlets worldwide. Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump sat in the row behind the president.
Rumors circulated about Trump's imminent pardons for insurrectionists who stormed the U.S. Capitol in 2021, but conflicting reports arose regarding the involvement of the most violent coup plotters.
President Biden issued preemptive pardons for high-profile figures like General Mark Milley and Dr. Anthony Fauci, serving as objects of Trump's venom in his retribution plans. Interestingly, Trump had previously proposed the execution of Milley for alleged treason.
On Friday, Trump also established his own cryptocurrency, a daring move carried out before officially assuming the presidency, given its potential to redirect wealth directly to him. The currency threatens to destabilize worldwide economies, as many people speculated that anything associated with Trump's power could be profitable.
Dubbed the $TRUMP coin, it quickly dominated over the weekend trading, surging to make up almost 90% of Trump's wealth (according to Axios). CIC Digital LLC, an affiliate of the Trump Organization, and Fight Fight Fight LLC, also owned by Trump's company, collectively monopolized approximately 80% of the coins. Previously, it was unlawful to print one's own currency.
If you're an American, brace yourself for a whirlwind of transformations in your daily life as Trump and his followers set about reshaping the nation. It's crucial to protect the vulnerable in our communities to the best of our abilities while Trump and his cronies make changes while plundering the country.
The tech industry's future under Trump's administration was a topic of interest, with tech giants like Zuckerberg, Bezos, and Cook possibly benefiting from policy decisions. This prospect further highlighted the innovative potential of technology in shaping the future of the USA.
In the years ahead, we can expect advancements in tech to play a significant role in mitigating uncertainties and driving progress, as technology continues to be a powerful force in shaping our world's future.
