Swedish firms face backlash over trump inauguration donations
Swedish companies Ericsson and Spotify made notable contributions to Donald Trump's inaugural fund, which caused controversy among employees and in the Swedish media. It is important to note that similar actions were taken by American tech giants.
Ericsson, the Swedish telecommunications company, donated $500,000 to the inaugural fund of U.S. President Donald Trump. The company's CEO, Börje Ekholm, in a statement to employees, emphasized that this decision stems from the company's growing involvement in building secure networks. "This makes us a critical part of the USA's national security infrastructure," Ekholm wrote, as quoted by "Dagens Industri."
However, the donation faced internal criticism 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 aimed to support 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) each contributed one million dollars.
Media remind us that during the inauguration events of previous presidents, the amounts contributed by these companies were smaller or not contributed at all. Current actions may indicate attempts to adapt to the new administration and build favourable 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, companies from the region are taking steps to protect their interests in the American market.
