Ericsson and Spotify face backlash over Trump donations
Swedish companies Ericsson and Spotify made significant contributions to Donald Trump's inaugural fund, which sparked controversy among employees and in the Swedish media. It is worth noting that American tech giants took similar actions.
Ericsson, the Swedish telecommunications company, donated $500,000 to the inaugural fund of U.S. President Donald Trump. In a statement to employees, the company's CEO, Börje Ekholm, emphasized that this decision stems from the company's growing involvement in building secure networks. As reported by Dagens Industri, Ekholm wrote that this makes us a critical part of the USA's national security infrastructure.
However, the donation was criticized internally at Ericsson. The company's code of ethics prohibits financing political parties or individual politicians. Media reports indicate that the decision to support Trump has sparked controversy, especially since the company usually avoids engaging in political matters.
Mysterious donation from Spotify
The Swedish streaming service Spotify contributed $150,000 to the U.S. president's inauguration. The amount of this donation was initially kept secret. In a statement, the company explained that the contribution supported Spotify's expansion in Washington.
This aligns with the work we do in other capitals around the world, promoting our political ideas regardless of who is in power, the statement read.
Support from global tech giants
Ericsson and Spotify are not the only companies that supported Trump's inaugural fund. American and international tech corporations such as Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Uber, and Meta (Facebook) contributed one million dollars.
Media outlets remind us that during previous presidents' inaugurations, the amounts contributed by these companies were smaller or not given at all. Current actions may indicate attempts to adapt to the new administration and build favorable business relationships.
Swedish and Danish companies have a strong presence in the U.S. market, and the sale of goods and services to the USA constitutes a significant part of these countries' exports. In light of Trump's announcements of potential tariffs, regional companies are taking steps to protect their interests in the American market.
