Meta Replaces Nick Clegg with Republican Joel Kaplan Ahead of Trump's Inauguration

Jan 2, 2025, 09:42 PM

Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced that Sir Nick Clegg, former UK Deputy Prime Minister who joined the company in 2018 and set up its oversight board, will step down as President of Global Affairs. He will be replaced by his deputy, Joel Kaplan, a prominent Republican and former official in the George W. Bush administration known for opposing censorship. The move comes ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration and is seen as a strategic shift by Meta to align its policy leadership with the incoming administration. Kaplan, with strong connections in Republican circles and considered well-regarded among Trump officials, has been a vocal advocate for more free speech on the platform.