What Donald Trump said about Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos’ text messages; new book makes explosive claims
New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan raise the issue in a new book Donald TrumpInteractions with some of Silicon Valley’s biggest names accuse US president of privately mocking Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos showing co-workers text messages they allegedly sent him.
according to Regime Change: Inside Donald Trump’s Imperial PresidencyTrump has boasted that several tech leaders who once opposed him are now seeking his support after the 2024 presidential election.
Trump allegedly showed Musk Zuckerberg and Bezos messages
Haberman and Swan wrote that Trump showed text messages from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos Elon Musk said at a party at Mar-a-Lago.
The author claims Trump told those present: “Think about where these people were in 2016. They hated me. They tried everything they could to bring me down. Look at them now.”
Musk seemed amused by the exchange, describing the messages as “first-class groveling,” according to the book.
The author also claimed that Trump later told colleagues that Zuckerberg and Bezos were “kissing my…” adding, “You won’t believe the text messages I get from these tech people. I have to show you.”
Also read: Jeff Bezos on Donald Trump: ‘I think he’s more mature…’
The White House did not directly respond to the accusations
The White House did not respond specifically to the claims detailed in the book.
On the contrary, White House spokesman Khushi Desai said, as quoted by Wired magazine: “President Trump is committed to working with every American business and business leader to solidify America’s leadership in innovation, re-support critical manufacturing, and accelerate economic growth.”
The book states that in addition to Zuckerberg and Bezos, Trump also met with several well-known technology executives after the 2024 election, including Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Apple CEO Tim Cook.
Haberman and Swan also allege that when Zuckerberg visited Mar-a-Lago around Thanksgiving in 2024, Trump played the national anthem over the speakers, using a version recorded by the J6 prison choir, which was composed of Capitol riot defendants who were in custody on January 6.
The book further claims that Trump later showed guests other messages allegedly sent by Zuckerberg, before pausing on a photo of a “Letter to the President” written by one of Pichai’s three children.
Also read: Global Rich List 2026: Elon Musk tops the list; who joins him in the top 10?
Bezos reportedly discussed SpaceX competition with Trump
Bezos also pushed Trump to promote greater competition for government space contracts, arguing that reliance on a single contractor such as Elon Musk’s SpaceX could pose a national security risk, the authors said.
According to the book, Bezos suggested that Trump ask Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg to encourage “contractor diversity,” a move that could allow Blue Origin to compete more aggressively for federal space contracts.
Haberman and Swan wrote that Trump told Bezos he would consider the proposal but never implemented it. The author added that Trump later repaired his relationship with Musk and continued to expand SpaceX’s Starship business.
