Just weeks ahead of President-elect Donald Trump beginning his second term, Meta is experiencing notable modifications within its global affairs team — an essential division tasked with regulating content policies, election-related issues, and the firm’s independent oversight board.
Nick Clegg, the ex-British deputy prime minister who has held the position of Meta’s President of Global Affairs since 2018, confirmed that he will be resigning in the coming year. He will be replaced by Joel Kaplan, a veteran Meta executive and past Republican political operative. Kaplan, who became part of Facebook in 2011, formerly worked in the office of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and held the role of deputy chief of staff under President George W. Bush.
In a Facebook post and a subsequent message on X (previously Twitter), Clegg contemplated his time at Meta, portraying it as a phase of evolution for the technology sector. “My tenure at the company aligned with a considerable reset of the rapport between ‘big tech’ and the societal pressures epitomized in new laws, institutions, and norms impacting the field,” he stated. Clegg expressed faith in Kaplan’s capacity to steer the team, labeling him “the right person for the right job at the right time.”
Kaplan, who previously occupied positions as Vice President of U.S. Public Policy and subsequently Global Public Policy at Meta, has encountered backlash for reportedly prioritizing Republican interests during his time there. Detractors have alleged that he eased content moderation guidelines to satisfy conservative figures, a claim that Meta has refuted. Kaplan also faced criticism for appearing at Senate hearings to support Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation, which was clouded by sexual assault allegations.
This leadership repositioning occurs as major tech firms, including Meta, seem to be reassessing their relations with Trump and his associates following his re-election. In the last year, prominent tech leaders have aimed to associate themselves with Trump, despite prior conflicts over content moderation topics. Trump has consistently targeted Meta for what he perceives to be biased moderation practices intended to silence him and his followers, along with accusations of manipulating election outcomes.
Trump was suspended from Meta’s platforms in 2021 in light of the January 6 Capitol riot, with the organization citing his involvement in inciting violence. His accounts were reinstated on a provisional basis in 2023 and fully restored in July 2024, shortly before the presidential election. Following this, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has reportedly intended to reconcile with Trump, including contributing $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund. Zuckerberg was also seen at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, further intensifying speculation regarding their improving relationship.
Other technology leaders have similarly shown support for Trump’s administration. Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Apple’s Tim Cook, and OpenAI’s Sam Altman have all publicly congratulated Trump on his reelection. Moreover, Trump has guaranteed political access to some of his most notable tech allies, including Elon Musk, who has been suggested for a possible position in a newly proposed “Department of Government Efficiency.”
As Meta navigates this transitional phase, the company’s shifting relationship with the Trump administration and its strategy towards global policy will likely remain under thorough observation.