Before the US election, tech CEOs were quietly courting Trump

Then US President Donald Trump touring Flextronics International, LTD in Austin, Texas, with Apple CEO Tim Cook on Nov 20, 2019. The executives of tech’s biggest companies largely ignored Donald Trump before the 2016 election — this time around, they’re far more friendly. — The New York Times

SAN FRANCISCO: When Donald Trump first campaigned for president eight years ago, tech executives largely ignored him. They later atoned for their disregard by making a televised walk through the lobby of Trump Tower in New York for a 90-minute meeting with the president-elect.

This election cycle, tech leaders have tried to avoid making the same mistake. Executives such as Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cook and Sundar Pichai started reaching out to Trump directly in the weeks and months before the first ballot was cast.