Donald Trump, once an outsider and controversial figure, is now America’s most sought-after leader. At 78, he draws attention from tech moguls, politicians, and world leaders as he prepares to return to the White House in January.
“During my first term, everyone fought me. Now, everyone wants to be my friend,” Trump said at Mar-a-Lago. “I guess my personality changed or something.”
Trump’s personality remains unchanged, but critics now align with his administration. Loyalty seems to be the highest priority. Wendy Schiller, a political science professor at Brown University, explained, “People think it’s better to stay on his good side, though it changes often.”
Since the election, Trump spends most of his time at Mar-a-Lago. This has prompted visits from high-profile figures. Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg visited to mend relations after Facebook banned Trump following the January 6 Capitol attack.
Apple CEO Tim Cook, Google executives Sundar Pichai and Sergey Brin, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos have also visited. Bezos, a former critic, is scheduled to meet Trump this week. Reports say Meta, Amazon, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman pledged $1 million each for Trump’s inauguration.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew also met Trump on Monday. His visit reflects efforts to prevent a U.S. ban on the platform. “This feels like a complete reversal from my first term,” Trump said, acknowledging the shift in attitudes.
Trump is gaining support from politicians and world leaders. Republican lawmakers have softened opposition to controversial nominees like Pete Hegseth for defense secretary. Vaccine-skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s pick for health secretary, is also gaining approval.
Outgoing President Joe Biden has also toned down criticism. Biden, who once called Trump a threat to democracy, now supports a smoother transition of power.
World leaders are eager to meet Donald Trump. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have visited. Trudeau, however, faces Trump’s threats of imposing steep tariffs.
Trump’s growing influence marks a significant cultural and political shift. Last week, the New York Stock Exchange invited him to ring the opening bell. That same morning, Time magazine named Trump ‘Person of the Year’ for the second time.
This enthusiasm signals Trump’s rising dominance in U.S. and global politics. The elite are eager to secure a place in his new administration.
