Amazon confirmed on Thursday that it will contribute $1 million to Donald Trump’s inauguration fund, a move mirroring similar actions by other major tech companies, including Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. Amazon also plans to broadcast Trump’s inauguration via its Prime Video service.

This announcement comes as major tech executives seek to establish ties with the incoming U.S. president, despite Trump’s longstanding criticisms of Big Tech. Trump has frequently accused technology companies of censorship and bias against conservative media.

Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s founder and CEO, is reportedly planning to meet Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort next week, according to The Wall Street Journal, which first reported Amazon’s donation. Similarly, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Apple CEO Tim Cook have expressed their congratulations to Trump since his election victory in November.

Trump’s relationship with Amazon has been fraught with challenges. During his first term, he accused the company of undercutting competition and criticized its tax policies. In 2018, Trump ordered a review of U.S. Postal Service package pricing, claiming the agency acted as Amazon’s “courier.”

Apple, meanwhile, faces potential risks from Trump’s proposed tariff policies, which could disrupt critical supply chains in China. However, during Trump’s first term, Cook secured exemptions for certain Apple products.

Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, and other tech leaders have also engaged with Trump. According to The Information, Zuckerberg dined with Trump after the election. Pichai is also expected to meet Trump this week.

While Trump scrutinized Big Tech during his presidency, Amazon now faces mounting regulatory pressure under President Joe Biden. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), led by Lina Khan, has been investigating Amazon for alleged monopoly practices, with several states filing lawsuits last year. The FTC is also examining major cloud service providers, including Amazon, over partnerships in artificial intelligence.

Despite earlier conflicts, Bezos recently praised Trump for his “tremendous grace and courage under real fire” in a post on X (formerly Twitter) following an assassination attempt. Bezos, who also owns The Washington Post, reportedly prevented the newspaper from endorsing Trump’s Democratic opponent Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.

Speculation about a tacit agreement between Bezos and Trump has surfaced, allegedly tied to Blue Origin, Bezos’s rocket company competing with Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

Nearly $140 billion has flowed into U.S. equity funds since last month’s election, as investors anticipate Donald Trump’s administration will implement sweeping tax cuts and regulatory reforms.

According to the Financial Times (FT), which cites data from EPFR, U.S. equity funds have seen inflows totaling $139.5 billion since Trump’s victory on November 5. This surge in investment made November the busiest month for equity inflows since records began in 2000.

The massive influx of funds has driven major U.S. stock indexes to a series of record highs, as investors appeared to shrug off concerns about potential economic risks, including inflation and its implications for the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy.

“The growth agenda that Trump has put on the table is being fully embraced,” said Dec Mullarkey, Chief Executive of SLC Management. He added that Trump’s picks for top administration posts have been seen as “very market friendly.”

Trump has promised to fill his administration with financial experts, including Scott Bessent as Treasury Secretary, and Paul Atkins, a cryptocurrency advocate, as Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The president-elect has outlined a pro-growth agenda, emphasizing reduced taxes, deregulation, and economic expansion. These proposals have spurred optimism among investors, fueling a rally in the market.

The S&P 500, Wall Street’s primary stock market indicator, has risen 5.3% since Election Day, bringing its total gains for the year to 28%. Smaller companies, which are often seen as more responsive to changes in the U.S. economy, have outperformed larger firms during this period. The Russell 2000 index recently hit a record high for the first time in three years.

While U.S. equity funds have enjoyed record inflows, other global markets have experienced outflows emerging market funds have seen net withdrawals of $8 billion, with China-focused funds accounting for $4 billion; funds investing in Western Europe have lost $14 billion; and Japan-focused funds have seen outflows of approximately $6 billion.

The United States has introduced new export controls to limit China’s ability to develop advanced semiconductor technology and slow its progress in military applications and artificial intelligence (AI). These measures, described as the most stringent to date, target both U.S. companies and foreign firms utilizing American technology in chip-making equipment.

The controls include a ban on exporting high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips to China, a crucial component in AI systems. According to U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, the restrictions are “groundbreaking and comprehensive.” She emphasized their importance, saying, “These are the strongest controls ever imposed by the United States to reduce the People’s Republic of China’s ability to produce the most advanced chips used in its military modernization.”

In addition, the U.S. Department of Commerce will place 140 Chinese entities on its Entity List, often referred to as a “blacklist.” Companies on this list must obtain export licenses, which are expected to be nearly impossible to secure. Notable targets include, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), Huawei Technologies, and Chinese firms involved in chip production equipment manufacturing.

According to the Financial Times, the regulations will affect 24 types of chip-making tools previously untouched. To enforce these rules more effectively, the U.S. will apply the Foreign Direct Product Rule (FDPR), impacting non-U.S. companies using American components or technology.

Notably, some U.S. allies, such as Japan and the Netherlands, have been granted FDPR exemptions after agreeing to adopt their own export controls. South Korea is awaiting a similar waiver. An unnamed U.S. official explained that the FDPR aims to prevent companies from circumventing controls by manufacturing tools in locations like Singapore or Malaysia for export to China.

The strategy reflects internal debates within the Biden administration regarding the extent of controls, particularly on Huawei’s operations. Some facilities of the Shenzhen-based company are not yet operational, raising questions about their capability for producing advanced chips. Officials appear divided, balancing tighter restrictions with the need for cooperation from allies.

Interestingly, some experts, including Gregory Allen, an AI specialist at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), have noted that leading U.S. toolmakers, such as Applied Materials, KLA, and Lam Research, are doubling their production capacity outside the U.S.

Despite the robust measures, questions remain regarding why certain Chinese manufacturers, such as CXMT, a producer of HBM, have not been added to the Entity List. Officials believe other restrictions will limit CXMT’s production capabilities, though some have argued for more direct action.