Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Apple, and Uber provided no donations towards the LA fires but $1M each towards Trump.

Question

Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Apple, and Uber provided no donations towards the LA fires but $1 million each towards Trump. Taylor Swift gave $10 million in aid towards the LA fires

Comments

Taylor Swift should be president low key.

Answer 1

The claim above isn’t entirely true, though isn’t completely false either. This headline is misleading in its claim that Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Apple, and Uber didn’t donate to the LA fires. Though it is true that major tech companies DID donate to support Donald J. Trump’s presidential campaign, there’s no supporting evidence to suggest that they haven’t donated to supporting the LA fires. With further research, it can be discovered that Amazon made a pledge to donate $10 Million to supporting those affected by the fires. Google made a statement claiming they’d donate $15 Million, along with Uber giving their word to donate $3 Million, and Mark Zuckerburg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, committing a donation from Meta to the LA fires of $4 Million. Both Apple and Microsoft claimed they would be making donations, though the method of said donation has yet to be specified. For the majority, they have yet to properly donate. Though Meta HAS donated, ruling this headline to be false and misleading. Furthermore, Amazon has put boots on the ground to effectively aid in the recovery from the mass devastation caused by the LA fires. They posted an article (attached below) going into depth as to what they are doing to participate in the collaborative aid in California. This aid includes a $10 Million donation to the cause. The flurry of controversy stems from an image posted on Instagram from user account @marthajane10. This image depicts a line up of all major tech companies, then Taylor Swift at the bottom of the list. Aligned in a chart-like format, it reads that Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Apple, and Uber donated $1 Million each to Trump and $0 to the LA fires. Taylor Swift on the other hand donated $0 to Trump and $10 Million to the LA fires. This user’s claim indirectly states that there’s a drastic contrast of priority between these specific companies and Taylor Swift. Though this table itself is actually false and the post is providing disinformation to the user’s audience. The post was later flagged for false information and was taken down. You can read more about how Meta addresses misleading and false information by reading the Help Center article published by the company.

Sources:

Staff, A. (2025, January 31). How Amazon is helping communities impacted by the California wildfires. California wildfires: How Amazon is helping communities impacted by Greater LA area wildfires. https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/community/los-angeles-wildfires-california-amazon-disaster-relief

Sekhar, - Metla Sudha, Mukeri, - Zafer, Elearnmarkets, De, - Tanusree, Rai, - Sachenkumar, Agrawal, - CA Raj K, Patni, - Prince, Vskills, Somani, - Shraddha, Gupta, - CA Rahul, Haque, - Ameen, & Aaker, - Dr. David. (n.d.). Donald Trump inauguration day: From Apple to Amazon, full list of top US companies that have donated for swearing-in ceremony. The Economic Times. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/global-trends/donald-trump-inauguration-day-apple-amazon-meta-google-microsoft-openai-boeing-uber-toyota-adobe-ford-full-list-of-top-us-companies-that-have-donated-for-swearing-in-ceremony/articleshow/117205135.cms?from=mdr

Instagram user @marthajane10’s post https://mvau.lt/media/831eb1f1-af42-4a43-9d58-1f397a2cb607

How is Facebook addressing false information through independent fact-checkers?: Facebook help center. How is Facebook addressing false information through independent fact-checkers? | Facebook Help Center. (n.d.). https://www.facebook.com/help/1952307158131536?helpref=related

Comments

I appreciate the amount of sources you have backing your factcheck, I also like how concise and straightforward you were. Especially with the amount of exact numbers to further your point.

Answer 2

Although it is true that Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Apple, and Uber all donated $1m to Donald Trump's campaign, as reported by The Verge, these companies did also provide donations to LA fire relief funds. According to Politifact, a fact-check site, "Amazon pledged $10 million, Google said it would give $15 million, Uber said it would donate $3 million and Meta, along with CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, committed $4 million toward Los Angeles wildfire relief efforts." Additionally, it is true that Taylor swift donated, however it was an undisclosed amount.

https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2025/jan/16/social-media/no-top-tech-companies-didnt-refuse-to-give-to-los/

https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/17/24345244/elizabeth-warren-senator-press-big-tech-trump-donations

Comments

At least everyone can ban together in times of need.

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This a strong factcheck! By providing what was true and what was false -- you layout a powerful foundation to your text. The sources you included are reliable and make a well built ending to your factcheck. Excellent work.

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Thank you for citing a source dedicated to unbiased political fact-checking, as well as making a distinction between what is true and what is false about the claim! Great work!

Answer 3

In my research into your claim, I found that Tim Cook, Apple's CEO, donation to the trump campaign was a personal gift and not one from the Apple company. However, the other companies mentioned in your claim did, in fact, donate 1 million dollars to Trump's campaign. all of these companies previously donated to the Joe Biden administration as well but did not contribute the same amount. Concerning the LA wildfires, Cook said he would donate but has not been specific on an amount. Amazon donated 10 million dollars. " This donation comes from our entertainment division (which includes Amazon MGM Studios, Prime Video, and Amazon Music), Ring, and Whole Foods Market." According to Amazon. Google and YouTube donated 15 million according to their website.

it seems as though your source is not reliable and could use more research.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2025/01/17/billionaires-celebrities-donate-los-angeles-wildfire-relief-zuckerberg-jamie-lee-curtis-kylie-jenner/

https://www.axios.com/2025/01/03/tim-cook-apple-donate-1-million-trump-inauguration

https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/17/24345244/elizabeth-warren-senator-press-big-tech-trump-donations

Answer 4

This claim has some truth to it, however it is exaggerated. I found a cite, Fastcompany.com that links all of the individual companies and their donations to Trump’s inauguration. While the numbers are correct in this claim as proven by this source, it isn’t entirely true that these companies donated nothing to the LA wildfires. Another source I found, CNBC claims that Amazon, Google, Meta and a lot of other media companies have announced million dollar donations towards fighting the wildfires as of the end of last month. Through other online searching, I found that Uber, Apple and Microsoft also have since donated to the fire relief. A statement from the Fast Company website says, “ The effort is especially unsurprising given Trump’s long history of favoritism—plus threats to punish his enemies. (Currently, Meta, Apple, Amazon, and Google parent Alphabet are all facing antitrust lawsuits from the federal government.)” Therefore the donations towards Trumps inauguration are presumably out of fear caused by his threats.

https://www.fastcompany.com/91257772/trump-inauguration-big-tech-donations-list-google-microsoft-meta-apple

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/13/netflix-and-comcast-among-companies-donating-to-la-relief-effort.html

Answer 5

It seems like the original post was circulated on BlueSky and Instagram. These sites are not credible sources and are not backed up in any post by evidence. 

Amazon has pledged $10 million in the form of about 500,000 relief items.
https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/community/los-angeles-wildfires-california-amazon-disaster-relief

Google with YouTube is donating $15 million to organizations aiding wildfire relief such as "Emergency Network Los Angeles, American Red Cross, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy and the Institute for Nonprofit News" (https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/supporting-LA-community/). Google is going to be updating their software with wildfire-related alerts and shelter information.
https://blog.google/feed/los-angeles-wildfires-response/

Microsoft's head of philanthropies and corporate VP said in a LinkedIn post that Microsoft will be matching each employee's donations to American Red Cross, Wildfire Relief Fund via California Community Foundation, and California Fire Foundation. They will also be activating Microsoft Disaster Response which will provide technical support in their field through other response organizations.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said in an X (formerly Twitter) post, "Apple will be donating to support the victims and recovery efforts on the ground" (https://x.com/tim_cook/status/1877176338651439162). He hasn't specified anywhere how much Apple plans on donating.

Uber stated that it pledges $1 million to World Central Kitchen and $2 million to "local community organizations that are serving [Los Angeles] with free rides, meals, groceries, essentials and freight transportation" (https://www.uber.com/newsroom/cawildfireresponse/)

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerburg, his wife, and the Meta company will donate a total of $4 million to wildfire relief. As for Taylor Swift, she has said on an Instagram story that she had donated to 10 organizations. Nowhere has it been disclosed how much she donated or which organizations the donations went to. (https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2025/jan/16/social-media/no-top-tech-companies-didnt-refuse-to-give-to-los/)

These companies have all indeed donated $1 million to Trump's inaugural committee (with the exception of Apple-- CEO Tim Cook did donate $1 million to his campaign, but it is not attributed to the company itself). The total amount that Trump has raised for his inauguration and other expenses is historically high: over $200 million.

In almost all cases, the amount of money pledged for wildfire relief was greater than that pledged to Trump's campaign.

Answer 6

While it is true that each of these companies donated $1 million to Trump’s political campaign, it is incorrect to claim that they have not donated towards the LA fires. In fact, these companies have donated many millions to help affected communities after the casualties of the LA fires. Amazon donated $10 million, Google donated $15 million in partnership with YouTube, Meta, alongside Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, donated $4 million, Apple donations were confirmed but the amount was undisclosed, and Uber gave $3 million in partnership with Postmates. As for Microsoft, their donations are a little more fuzzy, as they have only stated that they will match employee donations to 3 wildlife relief funds. Regardless, it is simply false to claim that these companies are refusing to provide financial assistance towards LA fire relief. 

https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2025/jan/16/social-media/no-top-tech-companies-didnt-refuse-to-give-to-los/

https://variety.com/2025/digital/news/la-fires-youtube-google-meta-donation-recovery-1236274379/