In a move that underscores its deepening political recalibration and accelerating AI ambitions, Meta Platforms has appointed Dina Powell McCormick as its president and vice chairman.
A veteran Wall Street executive and former senior Trump administration official, she brings seasoned Washington influence to the center of the company’s next growth phase.
The Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp parent said Powell McCormick will oversee long-term corporate strategy, major technology and infrastructure investments, and high-stakes capital deployment, reporting directly to Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg.
Powell McCormick brings a rare blend of global finance expertise and national security experience. She spent 16 years in senior leadership roles at Goldman Sachs and served as deputy national security adviser to President Donald Trump during his first term.
She also previously held senior advisory positions in the White House under former President George W. Bush.
President Trump swiftly welcomed the appointment, publicly praising Powell McCormick as “a highly talented and formidable leader” who served his administration “with strength and distinction.”
Her elevation comes as Meta accelerates efforts to strengthen its standing in Washington. Over the past year, the company has reshaped its public policy operations, dismantled its U.S. fact-checking program, rolled back diversity initiatives, and recruited multiple former Trump-era officials into senior roles.
At the same time, Meta is making one of the largest investment bets in Silicon Valley, committing up to $72 billion in capital spending in 2025 to fuel frontier artificial intelligence, personal superintelligence, and energy-intensive data-center expansion.
Zuckerberg has actively sought political support to secure the infrastructure and power capacity needed for these projects.
“Dina’s experience at the highest levels of global finance and government makes her uniquely positioned to help Meta navigate its most consequential phase of growth,” Zuckerberg said.
Powell McCormick will also spearhead efforts to expand Meta’s data-center footprint, build strategic capital partnerships, and reinforce the company’s long-term investment capacity as competition in the AI race intensifies.
Her husband, U.S. Senator David McCormick, chairs a Senate subcommittee overseeing energy policy, a domain closely tied to Meta’s infrastructure ambitions. His office said he will adhere to all Senate ethics requirements, while watchdog groups have urged heightened scrutiny.
The appointment echoes the influence once wielded by former COO Sheryl Sandberg, whose Washington ties helped Meta manage regulatory pressure.
Notably, Powell McCormick resigned from Meta’s board late last year, only to return now in a significantly more powerful executive role.
As Meta seeks to regain momentum following a muted response to its latest AI offerings, the move signals a clear strategy: political influence, massive capital, and experienced power brokers are now central to its bid to dominate the next era of technology.
