Former Trump adviser Dina Powell McCormick joins Meta as president and vice chairman
NBC16 hrs
Meta Names Dina Powell McCormick President and Vice Chair
Is Meta's appointment of Dina Powell McCormick strategic business leadership, or political maneuvering for Donald Trump's favor?
Above: Dina Powell McCormick at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha on May 23, 2023. Image credit: Christopher Pike/Bloomberg/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Dina Powell McCormick brings deep expertise in finance, economic development, and government relations that will strengthen Meta's global partnerships and infrastructure push. Her senior leadership at Goldman Sachs and BDT & MSD Partners, combined with service across Republican administrations, positions her to help execute Meta’s massive AI and data-center investments. The appointment reflects pragmatic business judgment aimed at expanding economic opportunity and delivering AI innovations to billions of users.
Establishment-critical narrative
Meta's appointment of Dina Powell McCormick as president and vice chair appears to be a calculated political move to curry favor with the Trump administration as antitrust pressure mounts. This follows a broader pattern of alignment, including adding Dana White to the board, ending DEI programs, loosening speech rules and dropping fact-checkers. McCormick's overt Republican ties — through her role in Trump’s White House and her marriage to a U.S. senator — suggest an effort to leverage political connections for corporate protection.