Meta Replaces European Diplomat with Bush-Era Republican for Top Global Affairs Role

In January 2025, Meta appointed Joel Kaplan, a former Republican White House deputy chief of staff, as President of Global Affairs, replacing Nick Clegg after seven years. The shift from a European-focused diplomat to a Washington operative suggests Meta is prioritizing alignment with the current U.S. administration. Yet the EU's Digital Services and Digital Markets Acts remain actively enforced regardless of American political shifts, raising questions about whether Kaplan's Beltway credentials will translate in Brussels.