Billionaires Dominate Trump’s Second Inauguration, Raising Concerns Over Influence

Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg were prominently seated, intensifying debates about wealth, power, and democracy in Trump’s second term.

Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg, with a combined net worth of nearly $900 billion, were seated near President Trump during his inauguration, sparking discussions about their influence on his administration.
Musk, who donated over $200 million to Trump’s campaign, now leads the newly created Department of Government Efficiency and has a direct line to the White House, raising ethical concerns.
Critics argue the presence of billionaires at the event symbolizes a growing oligarchy, with fears they may shape policies to benefit their businesses over public interest.
Trump’s inauguration also saw fossil fuel billionaires gain $3 billion in wealth in a single day, buoyed by his executive orders favoring deregulation and energy production.
Major tech and business leaders, including Sundar Pichai, Tim Cook, and Bernard Arnault, attended the event, reflecting a shift in corporate alignment toward Trump’s business-friendly policies.