Mark Zuckerberg identifies as libertarian, hires Republican strategist: report

In an effort to reshape his public image amid political controversies surrounding Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg has reportedly hired a Republican strategist to help his relationship with the right.

Much of the criticism towards Zuckerberg from the right stems from years of censoring and suppressing conservative content, including Facebook's decision to suspend Donald Trump's account after January 6, 2021, and the platform's suppression of the New York Post's reporting on Hunter Biden's laptop story during the 2020 election. Zuckerberg later admitted that he was pressured by the FBI to suppress the laptop story.

Zuckerberg has reportedly hired Republican strategist Brian Baker, the New York Times reported, to help mend his relationship with the right. Sources who spoke with Zuckerberg recently said that the Meta CEO identifies in private more closely with libertarianism or "classical liberalism."

Following the attempted assassination of Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Zuckerberg even praised Trump’s reaction to the incident, calling it "badass." Zuckerberg also reportedly called Trump twice over the summer. Trump claimed that Zuckerberg told him there was "no way I can vote for a Democrat," though Meta representatives have contradicted that statement. Zuckerberg has reportedly not forged a relationship with Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

In 2020, Zuckerberg and his wife donated $400 million to fund local elections, which was criticized by some on the right as an attempt to influence the election. Last month, Zuckerberg informed Congress that he would not make similar donations for the upcoming election. Baker has also stressed to Trump and his top aides that Zuckerberg does not plan to make such a donation again.

"Despite the analyses I've seen showing otherwise, I know that some people believe this work benefited one party over the other," Zuckerberg wrote in a letter to Congress last month, Business Insider reported. "My goal is to be neutral and not play a role one way or another — or to even appear to be playing a role."

A spokesperson for Zuckerberg stated that he will not endorse a candidate in this election, nor has he expressed who he intends to vote for.