Times are changing and for the better.
On Tuesday, President-elect Donald Trump is set to meet with Ted Sarandos, the co-CEO of Netflix, at his Mar-a-Lago estate. This meeting comes amid a series of high-profile discussions between Trump and top business leaders, as the president-elect works to establish strong relationships with corporate America in preparation for his next term in office.
Ted Sarandos has long been a supporter of Democratic Party candidates, including President Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama, and 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Sarandos, who has been with Netflix since 2000 and became co-CEO in 2020, is known for his significant political donations to Democratic causes. This background makes his meeting with Trump particularly noteworthy, as it signals a potential shift in how the media and entertainment industry might engage with the new administration.
While Sarandos has been a prominent figure in the entertainment sector, the meeting between him and Trump follows a broader trend of business leaders meeting with the president-elect. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who oversees Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, visited Mar-a-Lago in November after Trump’s victory. Additionally, Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google’s parent company Alphabet, and Apple CEO Tim Cook were both scheduled to meet with Trump in mid-December. These interactions suggest that corporate executives are eager to work with the new administration, especially given Trump’s promises to reduce regulation and promote economic growth.
Trump’s emphasis on cutting red tape and boosting American competitiveness, particularly in the technology sector, has resonated with leaders in Silicon Valley. Google’s Pichai recently noted that Trump’s focus on American competitiveness, including advancements in artificial intelligence, aligns with the priorities of many tech companies.
These meetings underscore Trump’s strategy of building ties with the business community to ensure a prosperous economic future. By engaging with influential figures like Sarandos, Zuckerberg, and Pichai, Trump aims to foster a pro-business environment that will benefit American workers and businesses alike.