Meta power broker Joel Kaplan is leaving after helping repair ties with Trump
Departure after the midterms
Kaplan is set to leave Meta after the midterm elections and a transition period. Axios first reported his departure, which Meta confirmed to Business Insider. In a post on X on Tuesday, Kaplan said he intended to spend time with his family and decide what to do next. He did not respond to a comment request from Business Insider.
A political career at Meta
A former Marine Corps artillery officer, Kaplan is a Republican who advised former President George W. Bush and served as his deputy chief of staff. He joined Meta in 2011.
Kaplan has been the company’s chief global affairs officer since 2025, taking over from former UK politician Nick Clegg. His work included Meta’s response to policy matters, from the Cambridge Analytica scandal to ending its fact-checking program.
Repairing relations with Trump
Kaplan played a role in mending relations between Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Trump. The relationship had been strained after Meta temporarily suspended Trump’s account following the January 6 riot. Axios reported that other Meta executives will divide Kaplan’s responsibilities after his departure.
Key points
- Kaplan plans to leave Meta after the midterm elections and a transition period.
- He joined Meta in 2011 and became chief global affairs officer in 2025.
- Kaplan helped improve relations between Zuckerberg and Trump after Trump’s account was suspended.
- Other Meta executives will share his duties, Axios reported.