Donald Trump, the 78-year-old Republican former president, has seen a remarkable shift in his political fortunes as he gears up for his return to the White House. Once regarded as an outsider and pariah, especially after his tumultuous exit from office, Trump has now become the figure everyone in the corridors of power wants to befriend. From Silicon Valley moguls to foreign leaders, his influence has only grown, sparking widespread attention and even some attempts at reconciliation from those who once opposed him.
“In the first term, everyone was fighting me. In this term, everybody wants to be my friend,” Trump mused to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Monday. “I don’t know, my personality changed or something,” he added, reflecting on the dramatic change in his political standing.
While Trump’s personality may have remained largely unchanged, his ability to command the attention of key figures across various sectors has become increasingly evident. The shift is especially noticeable among those who once harshly criticized him, signaling a new willingness to engage with him as he heads toward a potential second term in office.
Wendy Schiller, a political science professor at Brown University, noted the practical reasons behind this shift: “For now, folks are estimating that it is better to be on his good side than not — the problem for them is that his good side changes frequently.” Schiller’s observation highlights the unpredictable nature of Trump’s leadership style, where loyalty to him is paramount, but it is not always easy to predict who will find favor in his eyes.
Since the election, Trump has spent much of his time at his luxury Mar-a-Lago estate, and it has been up to the powerful and wealthy to make the trek to his gilded halls to seek his favor. The guest list is a veritable who’s who of the global tech industry, with some of the most influential figures in the business world coming to meet with the former president.
In November, Meta’s chief Mark Zuckerberg visited Trump at Mar-a-Lago, hoping to mend fences following Facebook’s decision to ban Trump after the January 6 Capitol riot. Zuckerberg was not alone in seeking reconciliation; Apple CEO Tim Cook, Google’s Sundar Pichai, and Sergey Brin have also made appearances at Trump’s resort. Additionally, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, a former outspoken critic of Trump, is expected to meet with him later this week.
The tech industry’s attempts to reestablish ties with Trump are part of a broader trend, with several high-profile business leaders aligning themselves with his political agenda. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, along with Meta and Amazon, has reportedly donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund, signaling financial support for the incoming administration.
Trump’s ability to attract these high-profile visitors underscores the changing political dynamics as he prepares to reclaim the presidency. On Monday, Trump hosted TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, whose company is trying to avoid a potential U.S. ban, further cementing Trump’s influence over both business and international affairs.
Reflecting on the nature of these visits, Trump said, “Honestly, in the first term — I don’t know what it was — it’s like a complete opposite.” His comments reflect the dramatic reversal in his standing, as he now finds himself at the center of attention from both those who once shunned him and those who now see aligning with him as advantageous.
This shift is not confined to the business world. Last week, Trump rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange, further cementing his place in the financial elite. On the same day, Time Magazine named him its “Person of the Year” for a second time, recognizing his influence and political resurgence.
Within the U.S. government, Republicans in Congress have largely rallied around Trump, with little visible resistance to his controversial cabinet picks. Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his pick for health secretary, have faced minimal opposition, signaling that the party is increasingly unified under Trump’s leadership.
Trump has made it clear that loyalty will be rewarded, with those who fail to fall in line potentially facing challenges from within the Republican Party. On Monday, he warned that any Republican lawmakers who opposed his agenda could find themselves targeted in upcoming elections by Trump loyalists, reinforcing his grip on the party.
The international stage has also seen a shift in alignment as world leaders seek to build relationships with the former president. Hungary’s right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban, known for his close ties to Trump, is among the world leaders who have sought to engage with him. Even Canada’s Justin Trudeau has been compelled to navigate Trump’s threats of imposing new tariffs.
In a stark reversal, the media, which Trump has long accused of being the “enemy of the people,” has also sought to rebuild its rapport with the former president. Notably, MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, who have been vocal in their criticism of Trump, made a visit to Mar-a-Lago in November.
The relationship between Trump and the media is a delicate one, but as Michelle Goldberg of The New York Times wrote in an opinion piece, this trend may reflect “The Great Capitulation,” where many who once stood against Trump are now capitulating to his power and influence.
However, this shifting landscape has its consequences. Those who continue to oppose Trump, or who are seen as enemies of his administration, are facing increasing scrutiny. Just this week, Trump filed lawsuits against a pollster and a newspaper after a pre-election survey showed him trailing in Iowa — a state he ultimately won by a landslide.
Schiller warned that Trump is now more adept at leveraging presidential power than before, stating, “Trump has indicated that he will make full use of the power of the presidency to go after anyone who challenges him, and now he appears to have a deeper understanding of how to do that.”
