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Meta’s top policy executive, Nick Clegg, is stepping down and will be succeeded by one of the company’s leading Republican figures.
Clegg joined the tech giant back in 2018 after serving as the deputy prime minister of the United Kingdom. He then took over as president of global affairs back in 2022. His exit leaves the position to his second-in-command, Joel Kaplan, a longtime policy executive with deep ties to Republicans.
Kaplan, who served as White House Deputy Chief of Staff under George W. Bush, has been a staunch advocate within Meta for preserving political speech. He has consistently argued that restrictive policies on such speech could disproportionately silence conservative voices. Kaplan was seen with Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance in December at the New York Stock Exchange.
Why is Nick Clegg leaving Meta?
Only three weeks before Trump’s inauguration, the timing of this shift reflects a broader trend among U.S. companies. Many are aligning themselves with the incoming president, building ties with his inner circle, and stepping back from the progressive positions they had recently championed.
Despite previously facing threats of imprisonment from Trump, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg joined the wave of outreach. In November, Zuckerberg dined with Trump at Mar-a-Lago and congratulated him on his election victory, echoing similar gestures from other tech industry leaders.
As a new year begins, I have come to the view that this is the right time for me to move on from my role as President, Global Affairs at Meta. It truly has been an adventure of a lifetime! I am proud of the work I have been able to do leading and supporting teams across the… pic.twitter.com/pXEP4TZYVe
— Nick Clegg (@nickclegg) January 2, 2025
In a statement posted on Facebook, Clegg said: “As a new year begins, I have come to the view that this is the right time for me to move on from my role as President, Global Affairs at Meta.”
He continued: “My time at the company coincided with a significant resetting of the relationship between ‘big tech’ and the societal pressures manifested in new laws, institutions and norms affecting the sector.
“I hope I have played some role in seeking to bridge the very different worlds of tech and politics – worlds that will continue to interact in unpredictable ways across the globe.”
However, Clegg said he was “thrilled” that Kaplan would be taking up the position of Meta’s Chief Global Affairs Officer.
Responding to Clegg’s post on Facebook, Zuckerberg wrote: “I’m grateful for everything you’ve done for Meta and the world these past seven years.
“You’ve made an important impact advancing Meta’s voice and values around the world, as well as our vision for AI and the metaverse.”
He added: “I’m excited for Joel to step into this role next given his deep experience and insight leading our policy work for many years.”
Key roles given to Republicans ahead of Trump’s inauguration
Meta has also recently elevated Kevin Martin, its vice president of global public policy, to a more prominent role. Martin, who previously served on the Federal Communications Commission under President George W. Bush, brings another strong Republican background to the table.
In addition, Meta’s general counsel, Jennifer Newstead, has deep ties to the Trump administration. She served as the top legal adviser to the State Department from 2017 until she joined the company in 2019.
Last March, ReadWrite reported that Trump had accused Facebook of being an “enemy of the people,” which caused its stock to drop significantly. Hence, the reshuffle could be seen as an attempt to regain favor with the new administration.
ReadWrite has reached out to Meta for comment.
Featured image: Nick Clegg via X / Canva
