White House AI Dinner Secures Billions in Investment from Tech Giants; Elon Musk and Jensen Huang Absent

On September 4, 2025, President Donald Trump hosted a high-profile dinner at the White House, gathering 33 prominent technology executives to discuss the future of artificial intelligence and secure commitments for U.S. investment. The event, held in the State Dining Room, underscored the administration's push for American dominance in AI and marked a significant strategic realignment between Silicon Valley and the White House. This gathering followed an AI education summit earlier in the day, chaired by First Lady Melania Trump.

The dinner saw the attendance of industry titans including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. During the event, executives pledged substantial investments in the United States, with Mark Zuckerberg and Tim Cook each committing $600 billion towards data centers and infrastructure. Sundar Pichai announced a $1 billion commitment for education and job training, with $150 million dedicated to AI-focused grants.

Despite the extensive guest list, two major figures were notably absent: Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.

"Who got invited but wasn't there? (would we ever know?) What happened to them, if anything?" questioned social media user 🇧🇪🇦🇳. Fortune reported that Elon Musk claimed on social media he "was invited, but unfortunately could not attend," although initial reports suggested his name was not on the official guest list. Jensen Huang, known for his preference for one-on-one meetings, has a history of skipping such high-profile gatherings.

The White House dinner signifies a deepening relationship between the Trump administration and the tech industry, a shift from previously contentious ties. The administration has actively courted tech leaders, promoting policies favorable to innovation, including support for cryptocurrencies and a focus on AI dominance. This strategic engagement aims to foster U.S. leadership in the rapidly evolving AI landscape and encourage domestic investment.

The event highlighted the tech industry's recognition that collaboration with the administration serves their business interests amidst a competitive global technology environment. Executives praised President Trump's pro-business and pro-innovation stance, emphasizing the importance of supportive policies for maintaining America's technological edge. The dinner sets a precedent for continued cooperation between government and leading tech firms in shaping the future of AI.