By Katie Paul and Juby Babu (Reuters) -Facebook owner Meta Platforms and Amazon.com are winding down diversity programs ahead of Republican Donald Trump's return to the U.S. presidency as conservative opposition to such initiatives grows louder.

Meta and Amazon are both axing their diversity programs, adding their names to a growing list of firms across corporate America making similar moves in anticipation of Donald Trump ’s return to the White House.

In less than two weeks, Meta has scrapped its US fact-checking programme, elevated prominent Republican Joel Kaplan to be its chief global affairs officer and elected Mr Dana White, chief executive officer (CEO) of Ultimate Fighting Championship and Trump’s close friend, to its board.