Mark Zuckerberg has said he doesn’t have plans to stand for US president.
The Facebook boss shut down rumours that he is planning to run for president in the 2020 election, dismissing claims that he has political ambitions that could see him challenge Donald Trump.
Speculation that Zuckerberg might be preparing an entrance into political life arose when he said in 2017 he planned to visit every state in the US. In a statesman-like Facebook post, Zuckerberg said he would travel to and meet people in all 30 states at a time when the country is “at a turning point in history”.
But after weeks of conjecture Zuckerberg has said he doesn’t have political ambitions. In response to a question from BuzzFeed about whether he had any plans to run for president he said “No”.
“I’m focused on building our community at Facebook and working on the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative,” he said.
Political views | Mark Zuckerberg
On Trump
During Trump’s campaign, Zuckerberg said: “I hear fearful voices calling for building walls and distancing people they label as others. For blocking free expression, for slowing immigration, reducing trade, and in some cases around the world even cutting access to the internet. It takes courage to choose hope over fear”
Donations
Zuckerberg has donated to both Republicans and Democrats, although more often to the latter. Facebook itself has also donated to both.
Immigration
Zuckerberg has spearheaded FWD.us, a lobbying group that is largely focused on improving immigration for skilled workers and allowing illegal immigrants to gain citizenship. It also campaigns for better science and tech education.
Republican or Democrat?
Zuckerberg supports many traditionally liberal views such as supporting gay marriage, investing in clean energy and defending encryption. However, he has been careful not to appear aligned to one side of the divide.
China
Zuckerberg speaks Mandarin and his wife is the daughter of Chinese parents, and has sought to be close to Beijing. However, this is mostly explained by his efforts to have Facebook unbanned in the country.
An unnamned source close to Zuckerberg also told the website: “There’s absolutely no truth to the idea that Mark is running for office and I’ve heard it directly from him.”
That said, Zuckerberg didn’t respond to follow up questions about whether he could rule out ever running for political office, according to BuzzFeed. And the source said he is planning to take a more active role in politics.
As well as promising to tour the US, Zuckerberg has made other moves recently that suggest an interest in politics. In last year’s stock restructuring, which let Zuckerberg sell his Facebook shares while maintaining voting control, he included a clause that said he could serve two years in government without resigning his position.
He then hired a former White House photographer to take his Facebook photos, and former presidential campaign managers for George Bush and Barack Obama to work on policy at the Chan Zuckerberg initiative.
Important in US politics, he also said he sees the importance of religion having once been a staunch atheist.
At a glance | Mark Zuckerberg’s self-improvement challenges
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is known for taking on an ambitious personal challenge at the start of every year:
2017: Visit and meet with people from every state in the U.S. by the end of 2017
2016: Run 365 miles, and design an AI assistant to help automate tasks in his home
2015: Read a new book every other week
2014: Write one thoughtful thank-you note every day
2013: Meet a new person outside of Facebook every day
2012: Code every day
2011: Only eat animals he kills himself
2010: Learn Mandarin
2009: Wear a tie to work every day