Leaders at top big tech firms rushed to congratulate Donald Trump on his landslide election victory as they sought to rebuild bridges with the president-elect — and his most influential Silicon Valley booster, Elon Musk — ahead of a transformative period for the sector.

The chief executives of Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta and Microsoft posted supportive messages on social media on Wednesday, which stood in contrast to their more circumspect reaction to the results of the 2016 and 2020 elections. All of their companies have since faced significant regulatory probes and antitrust threats as part of a crackdown by Joe Biden’s Democratic administration. 

They now stand to gain much from a more tech- and business-friendly attitude from Trump, if they can win over a mercurial politician who in the past has repeatedly clashed with what he considers a left-leaning constituency that has funded his opponents and censored him.

Musk has already adopted the role as Trump’s emissary to the tech world after spending more than $100mn backing his campaign and spearheading a relentless social media crusade with dozens of posts a day on his platform X. In return, Trump called him a “super-genius” and promised him a wide-ranging advisory role focused on cutting government costs and regulations.

The world’s richest man — who also runs Tesla, SpaceX and xAI — posted American flag emojis in reply to Apple’s Tim Cook and Microsoft’s Satya Nadella on X, while commenting “indeed” to Amazon chief executive Andy Jassy and “cool” to Google boss Sundar Pichai.

“America is a nation of builders. Soon, you will be free to build,” Musk pinned to the top of his X profile.

Here is a look at what tech leaders are hoping to gain from a Trump presidency.

Deals

Trump’s second term is expected to be an immediate catalyst for corporate takeovers, private equity deals and venture capital exits, which have been paralysed for years by heightened scrutiny from Biden’s competition watchdogs and high interest rates.

Rather than acquiring promising artificial intelligence start-ups outright, the likes of Microsoft, Amazon and Google instead got creative, hiring their founders or licensing their technology, which allowed them to avoid more conventional antitrust scrutiny.

Fears of deals being rejected also blocked venture-backed start-ups from making lucrative sales. 

Their bête noire has been Lina Khan, chair of the Federal Trade Commission, allied with Jonathan Kanter, head of antitrust at the Department of Justice. The pair have blocked M&A deals, targeted tech monopolies and scrutinised partnerships between AI start-ups and Big Tech companies, including Microsoft.

“The dealmaking has begun, conversations are already happening among boards of directors,” said Boris Feldman, co-head of Freshfields’ global tech practice. “There will be a flood, knowing that when it’s time for regulatory approval, Khan will be back at Yale Law School.”

Investment bankers and advisers to Silicon Valley’s tech giants and venture capitalists were also buoyant as the US dollar and stock markets surged.

“From a corporate perspective [we are] thrilled. The flood gates are about to open and we’re going to print money,” said one person at Goldman Sachs, whose stock rose 13 per cent on Wednesday.

Antitrust

Trump’s return to the White House could also spell relief from antitrust probes in the US and Europe.

“Congratulations President Trump on your victory! We look forward to engaging with you,” Apple CEO Cook said on X. In 2016, Cook helped raise funds for Trump’s rival, Hillary Clinton, but charmed Trump during his first term. Cook has otherwise kept below the radar as his company has come under pressure from a coalition of global regulators. 

Khan and Kanter have spearheaded a vigorous campaign against Big Tech’s corporate power. Most notably the DoJ this year won a landmark ruling against Google in search, while other lawsuits have been filed to challenge the market power of Apple, Amazon and Meta.

Many predict that Khan’s days are numbered at the FTC. Musk wrote on X last week that she “will be fired soon”.

Analysts have speculated that Trump could direct the DoJ to discontinue its monopoly lawsuit against Apple, filed earlier this year. The iPhone maker is also set to be fined under the EU’s new Digital Markets Act over its App Store rules. Trump has made no secret of his contempt for the EU regulator.

“An interesting question is whether Trump or [vice-president JD] Vance will tell the EU and UK to stop punishing US companies, especially in light of challenges from China?” said Freshfields’ Feldman. “Biden didn’t push back on it; if the tech companies feel they are building a relationship with Trump, that might be their ask: help us get the Europeans off our backs.”

In October, Trump said in a podcast interview that Cook had called him to complain about a recent EU court ruling that required the company to pay €13bn in back taxes in Ireland, as well as a €1.8bn antitrust fine in March for stifling competition from rival music streaming services.

“[Cook] said they are using that [money] to run their enterprise,” Trump said. “I said — but Tim, I’ve got to get elected first. But I’m not going to let them take advantage of our companies. That won’t be happening.”

Yet Trump and his followers have a complex relationship with antitrust enforcement. The major antitrust lawsuit against Google, which the company lost this year, was filed under his watch, and JD Vance has previously voiced support for the FTC’s Khan — and for breaking up Google, which is something Biden’s DoJ said it might pursue as a remedy in the search monopoly case.

Social media

Social media companies are trying to avoid invoking the wrath of Trump, who has accused them of censorship and silencing conservative speech. In 2022, Trump said that if re-elected, he would sign an executive order banning federal agencies from “colluding with any organisation, business or person to censor, limit, categorise or impede the lawful speech of American citizens” and curb funds to universities found to have “engaged in censorship activities”.

Mark Zuckerberg, whose companies include Facebook and Instagram, has appeared to warm to Trump over the past few months. Over the summer he called Trump a “badass” for his reaction to an assassination attempt and wrote a letter to the Republican-led House judiciary committee accusing Biden of repeatedly pressuring Meta to “censor” certain Covid-19 content during the pandemic.

On Thursday he wrote on Threads, his X clone, to congratulate Trump on “a decisive victory,” adding: “Looking forward to working with you.”

One of the most closely watched sagas will be the potential US ban of TikTok over national security concerns linked to its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. Trump proposed a TikTok ban when he was president in 2020. Since then he has since flipped his position, arguing he would not ban the app because it is in America’s interests to ensure there is competition for Zuckerberg’s Facebook, which he has criticised as an “enemy of the people”.

TikTok has sued the government to stop legislation passed during the Biden administration that would require the app to cut ties with ByteDance or shut down in the US by mid-January. A ban of the $230bn short-video app could hurt its biggest US investors, including Susquehanna International Group, which owns a 15 per cent stake, and Coatue Management, which owns less than 5 per cent. Jeff Yass, co-founder and managing director of SIG, was a major donor to the Trump campaign this year.

Artificial intelligence

The US approach to artificial intelligence is among the biggest policy issues for tech, with debates about regulation and the safety of the nascent and fast-moving technology unresolved.

Trump has not articulated his own approach to AI, but many anticipate a light touch. In his first term, Trump issued an executive order “committed to strengthening American leadership in AI”, which noted that “innovation can be hampered or driven overseas by overly restrictive government regulations.” But that was before AI became one of the hottest — and most lucrative — investments in Silicon Valley.

Trump has vowed to cancel an executive order from Biden on AI, which reflected the Democrats’ more cautious approach and emphasis on safety and security standards over unfettered innovation. The president-elect said he would ban the use of AI to censor the speech of American citizens “on day one”.

On this Trump shares common ground with Musk, who has stressed the importance of the US winning the global AI race against China. He has raised billions of dollars to fund his own start-up, xAI, even while warning that AI’s unchecked development poses an existential threat to humanity. 

Musk has also sued OpenAI, the start-up he co-founded with Sam Altman in 2015, for straying from its original non-profit mission to develop AI for the benefit of all. The ChatGPT maker has since grown to be one of the world’s most valuable private companies worth $150bn. 

Altman’s reaction to Trump’s victory was symbolic of the transformation that has occurred in Silicon Valley in the four years since he left office. “This feels like the worst thing to happen in my life,” Altman wrote in 2016.

He was more conciliatory on Wednesday: “Congrats to President Trump. I wish for his huge success in the job.”

Reporting by Stephen Morris, Tabby Kinder, George Hammond, Cristina Criddle, Michael Acton and Hannah Murphy

ALDI’s popular Kevin the Carrot-themed plush toys are set to return to stores for the festive season.

Shoppers will be able to pick up a host of characters from this year’s Christmas ad including Kevin, Katie and the Humbug.

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The ad features the popular Kevin character taking on the evil Dr Humbug bent on stealing the Christmas spirit.

Viewers see Kevin sleeping on a dinner plate awoken by a message from Santa tasking him with the rescue mission.

Kevin then enlists the help of his wife Katie using disguises and a case with a “false bottom’” to steal the spirit back from the evil Dr Humbug and her minions in a Mission Impossible-style clip.

Kevin first appeared on the Christmas ad in 2016 and has every year since. You can view this year’s ad in full above.

To mark the new advert, Aldi is unveiling the selection of themed Specialbuys in its middle aisle from next Thursday (November 14).

Customers can snap up Kevin and Katie Plush toys for £3.99 each from the Christmas range.

Meanwhile, the Humbug toy is in stock for the same price while there’s a larger and new My Pal Kevin the Carrot toy, which comes with long arms and legs, on sale for £9.99.

Also in the range are Christmas Tree Plush Decorations for £2.99 based on the Kevin, Katie and Humbug characters.

There are even Kevin and Katie Christmas Pyjamas up for grabs for £5.99 while a Kevin-themed book is selling for £2.99.

It’s worth bearing in mind, Specialbuys are limited edition so when they’re gone, they’re gone.

You can find your nearest Aldi store by using the retailer’s branch locator on its website.

Aldi’s Kevin the Carrot character has surged in popularity since his first unveiling in the retailer’s Christmas ad in 2016.

Themed toys were also released that year, with shoppers rushing to buy them in the years since, including in 2017, 2019, 2021 and last year.

The vegetable-based character has appeared in multiple ads since his first unveiling eight years ago too.

In 2021, he starred alongside footballer Marcus Rashford who appeared as a radish.

In 2019, Kevin hit screens alongside a new character Russell Sprout and a Brummy gang of “Leafy Blinders”.

Following the release of last year’s Christmas ad, shoppers went into a frenzy after Aldi released Kevin the Carrot themed toys, with huge crowds seen queuing up outside their local stores from as early as 4am.

The launch of the Christmas range this year comes after Aldi announced it will shutter all its branches on Boxing Day to give staff time off over the festive period.

It joined a host of others including Poundland, Wilko and The Range and B&Q.

How to save money at Aldi

It’s worth keeping an eye out for any red sticker products, which staff add to items when they’ve been reduced in price.

Aldi tends to add them to items in the morning so it’s best to get in there early if you want to get the best discounts.

Keep an eye out for slashed-price fruits and vegetables as well – the retailer tends to reduce six items every two weeks to “silly low” prices, according to deals expert Tom Church.

Get ahead of the crowd by signing up to Aldi’s newsletter and following the retailer on social media as well.

It often announces upcoming deals via the two channels so you can snap up the best prices before anyone else.

And of course, take advantage of Aldi’s cheap alcohol which could save you some cash compared to going with branded versions.

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Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

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ENTREPRENEUR Ryan Howsam, who grew up in a council house and now runs a £1.3billion business, has slammed Labour’s Budget as an ‘absolute disaster’ for small firms.

In an exclusive interview with The Sun, the insurance boss warned that Labour’s recent Budget will kill family businesses and force firms to cut wages.

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The founder and chairman of insurer Staysure blasted changes to inheritance tax, National Insurance and minimum wage.

Mr Howsam set up his first business at 19 and is now the chief executive of a major, family-run insurance company which employs over 700 people.

Family-run businesses form around 86% of the UK’s private sector, according to the Family Business Research Foundation, most of which are considered “small to medium” businesses (SMEs).

But several changes announced in the Budget last week were targeted at increasing costs for those firms, which Mr Howsam says will see more firms close and a loss of opportunities for everyone.

For example, he said the government’s increase to the Living and Minimum Wages by 6.7% and 16%, respectively, as well as employers’ National Insurance will mean firms have to cut wage growth.

Meanwhile, he said the changes to bring family business assets into the scope of inheritance tax (IHT) will force more family businesses to close, or their families will have to sell them at a reduced price to pay the tax bill.

“I don’t really think [the Budget] served lower-income households very well, as minimum wage growth and the National Insurance increase will hit businesses’ ability to grow, and that will ultimately mean there’s less wage growth and less opportunity,” he explained.

“And the changes to inheritance tax are an absolute disaster.

“I come from a council house background, so I’m as working class as you get and I understand people having less disposable income.

“But this narrative that Labour has got that we should hammer anybody who has got money and wants to succeed is like biting the hand that feeds you. Why would you do that?

“These are the people bringing the cash in and paying the majority of our tax.”

‘Changes to IHT will kill family businesses’

Changes to bring family businesses into the scope of inheritance tax (IHT) will mean families having to pay 20% tax on assets over £1million.

Previously, family businesses were exempt from IHT if left to a loved one.

But now this exemption will only apply to the first £1million of assets in the businesses, which Mr Howsam says means families will have to sell their busniess at a reduced price to pay the remaining tax bill.

“Most family businesses are not quoted on the stock market, which means HMRC will have to put an arbitrary value on them, and then the family has just got to come up with that money,” he explained.

“If you take a business valued at £4million, that business might only have £100,000 in the bank, but 20% of £4million (without business relief on the first £1million) is £800,000. Where are the family going to get £800,000 from, plus interest?

“They won’t – the only way the money will come in is it they sell the business for a lot less than it’s worth because they are desperate.

“So, these families have worked their whole lives, but they will be forced to sell the business or try to come up with an awful lot of money. It’s a really stupid move.”

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‘Targeting the wealthy will mean more tax for everyone’

Mr Howsam added that targeting wealth and businesses will ultimately end up increasing taxes for everyone if those people decide to leave the UK.

“Around 4,500 millionaires left the country last year, and this year it’s forecast to be 9,500 millionaires,” he said.

“You may think that doesn’t matter, but it does matter, because the top 1% of taxpayers pay 28% of HMRC‘s tax take – and then there’s the money they spend, which puts their tax take up to 36%.

“If those people leave, who do you think is going to have to pay more? The country is just getting less well off as a result.”

The government’s plan to also include pensions in the scope of IHT will also mean far more people end up paying the death tax, he said.

Currently, only around 4% of families pay IHT, but Mr Howsam says the changes in the Budget will trickle down and start hitting mid-to-low income families.

“IHT is going to hit middle income people in a big way, and then it’s going to start coming down towards lower-income people too, if they have a bigger pension pot,” he said.

Other announcements in the Budget

In the Budget last week, Labour announced a raft of measures to fill a £22billion “black hole” in the country’s finances allegedly left by the previous government.

A few of those measures included the changes to IHT, a crackdown on benefit fraud, a hike in tobacco duty and a stamp duty increase on second homes.

However, there was some good news for savers in the Budget.

Benefits like Universal Credit and Attendance Allowance will rise by 1.7% in line with September’s inflation figure. Ms Reeves also confirmed the state pension will rise by up to £473 next year.

The minimum wage is also set to rise for workers aged 21 and over by 6.7% from next April from £11.44 to £12.21.

We have rounded up legal ways to avoid inheritance tax here.

Asda has confirmed 475 roles at their head offices in Leeds and Leicestershire will be cut and hybrid working reduced as part of a business restructure.

The retailer said the move, which would affect less than 10% of its head office staff, would enable it to “simplify structures” amid a challenging market.

In a note to employees on Tuesday, the company’s chairman Lord Rose said office attendance would also become compulsory for at least three days per week from January.

It comes after the company reported a 2.2% decline in total revenues excluding fuel, to £5.3bn from April to June 2024.

A spokesperson for the firm said: “The changes which are being communicated today will result in 475 colleagues being made redundant at our head offices in Leeds and Leicestershire.

“In addition, fixed-term contractors who are working on our IT transformation project will also leave over the course of the next few months as this project finishes.”

From January 2025, employees would also be required to be present in an Asda office location for a minimum of three days per week.

Lord Rose said the changes were needed to “ensure that the business was best placed to meet our long-term ambitions”.

“As part of this process, we are redefining roles and accountabilities to remove duplication and simplify structures,” he said.

Asda was bought in 2020 from Walmart by billionaire brothers Zuber and Mohsin Issa in a £6.8bn deal with the backing of equity firm TDR Capital.

Last week, Asda announced TDR Capital had acquired the shares of Zuber Issa, who subsequently stepped down from his non-executive role on Asda’s board.

This brings the ownership of Asda by TDR Capital to 67.5%.

Mohsin Issa, who stepped back from his executive leadership role in September, owns 22.5 %, while 10% is still held by Walmart.

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