Tech Giants Pivot to Trump, Face White House Skepticism Despite $600 Billion Pledge

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, and Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, have actively sought to strengthen their ties with President Donald Trump, a move that has been met with deep skepticism by White House officials. This strategic realignment follows a significant deterioration in the relationship between President Trump and Elon Musk. The Financial Times reported that the proximity of these tech leaders to the President is a result of careful planning, aiming to secure commercial opportunities and navigate regulatory landscapes.

The shift by Zuckerberg and Altman, both previously associated with Democratic causes, is seen by some within the administration as a "marriage of convenience." They have reportedly visited the White House multiple times this year, including a recent dinner where Zuckerberg was seated next to President Trump. During these interactions, the tech executives have sought support for expanding their AI empires, particularly in accelerating permits for costly data centers and avoiding red tape.

President Trump, in turn, has leveraged these new alliances to highlight US investment and innovation. Mark Zuckerberg notably pledged an investment of at least $600 billion in the US through 2028, a figure that, while significant, was reportedly met with some uncertainty by Zuckerberg himself in a hot mic incident. Both Meta and OpenAI have also lifted restrictions on the military's use of their artificial intelligence technology, aligning with the administration's "democratic AI" initiative against China.

Despite these overtures, White House officials remain wary, largely due to the tech leaders' past political affiliations. The Financial Times article, summarized by Techmeme, stated: > "Sources: Mark Zuckerberg and Sam Altman have sought to get closer to President Trump after Elon Musk fallout, but WH officials remain deeply skeptical of them." This skepticism stems from a belief that the allegiance could shift again with changing political tides.

Meta's content moderation policies have also reportedly become more "Maga-friendly," including the lifting of external fact-checking from its platforms. Furthermore, Meta has engaged in lobbying efforts through the Trump administration against European Union tech regulations, such as the Digital Markets Act. However, this newfound alignment has not shielded Meta from ongoing antitrust cases or investigations by the FTC, indicating continued regulatory scrutiny.