The United States recently held its presidential election, with Republican candidate Donald Trump emerging as the winner. As part of the inauguration events, Spotify made headlines for hosting a pre-inauguration brunch featuring podcast figures like Joe Rogan and Ben Shapiro, and reportedly donating $150,000 for the ceremony itself. According to Bloomberg, the brunch was aimed at highlighting the growing influence of podcasts in politics.
As a response, Spotify has published a statement that the donation aligns with their broader strategy of engaging policymakers and advancing their agenda globally, regardless of the political party in power. They described the move as “business as usual,” sharing their history of working with different leaders for Bloomberg.
However, the donation has created mixed reactions. Some users expressed disappointment, questioning the company’s support for a controversial political figure. Discussions started on social media and forums, with some users debating the ethics of continuing to support the platform.
This situation shows how tech companies and politics are becoming more connected. Alongside Spotify, other tech giants like Apple and Amazon also contributed to the inauguration, further showing the industry’s involvement in political events. As these platforms grow, people are paying closer attention to their political choices. It is yet unclear whether this decision will build or hurt trust with users.
