TikTok CEO Attends Donald Trump Inauguration: Full List of Big Tech Attendees

Key Takeaways

• Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, was attended by some of the biggest names in tech.
• Alongside a host of Silicon Valley moguls, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew made an appearance.
• In one of his first executive actions, Trump moved to halt a law banning TikTok in the U.S.

Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20 was a major event for the global tech industry, and the guest list features some of the most well-known figures in the space.

While a large contingent from Silicon Valley attended the event, American tech leaders were also joined by TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew.

Shou Zi Chew Seated Next to Tulsi Gabbard

In a seating arrangement that reflects TikTok’s precarious position vis-a-vis the American intelligence community, Shou Chew was seated next to Tulsi Gabbard, President Trump’s nominee for the director of national intelligence.

In an executive order signed within hours of his taking office, Trump signaled his desire to reach a deal with ByteDance to prevent TikTok from being shut down.

However, Trump’s favor may not be enough to protect TikTok from a law that was passed by Congress with bipartisan support and upheld by the Supreme Court.

For her part, Gabbard has spoken out against the TikTok ban, which she decried as government overreach.

Now, as the various interested parties look to find a way forward, seating Gabbard next to Shou Zi Chew sends a message about the new administration’s intentions.

Big Tech Billionaires Steal the Limelight

One of the most notable takeaways from Trump’s inauguration ceremony was the prominent position afforded to the world’s three richest men.

Critics of the new administration, who have accused Trump of installing an oligarchy in Washington, quickly pointed out that Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg had some of the best seats in the house.

“Big Tech billionaires have a front-row seat at Trump’s inauguration,” observed Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren. “They have even better seats than Trump’s own cabinet picks. That says it all.”

Political commentator Ron Filipkowski noted that although congressional spouses were not invited to the ceremony, the presence of Bezos’ fiance Lauren Sánchez suggested there were “different rules for the oligarchs.”

Completing the Big Tech roster, the three men were also joined by Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, with photographs of the seating arrangement capturing an iconic moment for Silicon Valley.

Other Tech Leaders

Seated further back in the Capitol Rotunda, other tech leaders in attendance included Apple CEO Tim Cook.

Meanwhile, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was photographed at the event talking to Jake and Logan Paul.

The one glaring omission from the group of Silicon Valley moguls was Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. However, Nadella did reportedly dine with President Trump, Musk, and Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Alongside Nadella’s lunch at Mar-a-Lago, Microsoft founder Bill Gates has also allegedly reached out to Trump’s team about a potential meeting.