NEW YORK — In a series of meetings, lunches, calls, financial commitments, and social media interactions, prominent tech leaders like Tim Cook from Apple, Sam Altman of OpenAI, Mark Zuckerberg from Meta, Masayoshi Son of SoftBank, and Jeff Bezos from Amazon have been actively engaging with President-elect Donald Trump as he prepares to assume office in January.
“During my first term, it felt like everyone was at odds with me,” Trump remarked at Mar-a-Lago. “Now, in this new term, everyone seems eager to be my ally.”
The tech sector has significantly increased their financial contributions to Trump’s inauguration fund compared to what they typically pledged to incoming administrations. However, this raises the question of what benefits they anticipate from these renewed connections with Trump.
On Tuesday, Salesforce’s CEO Marc Benioff shared that the upcoming Trump administration appears more open to discussions regarding pivotal industry matters than the Biden administration has been. “If you set politics aside, many people are eager to refresh some perspectives,” stated Benioff, who aims to maintain a nonpartisan stance due to his ownership of Time magazine. “This is an exhilarating moment—a new chapter for America. Everyone ought to carry positive intent going forward. We have extraordinary individuals in tech, like Elon Musk, and leveraging their expertise could lead to remarkable outcomes for the country.”
Looking towards artificial intelligence development, the tech industry’s goals became apparent just before the elections when Microsoft executives, typically cautious about their public stance, collaborated with Trump ally Marc Andreessen to publish a blog detailing their vision for AI policy.
“Regulatory measures should only be adopted when their advantages surpass the drawbacks,” stated the document co-signed by Andreessen, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and president Brad Smith. They also urged the government to avoid bolstering copyright laws that restrict access to publicly available data used for training AI systems and suggested a reassessment of procurement practices to allow startups greater opportunities to sell tech solutions to the government.
Trump has committed to overturning President Biden’s extensive AI executive order, which aimed to safeguard individuals’ rights while promoting innovation. Although he hasn’t clarified his plans, his campaign asserted that AI’s development should focus on “Free Speech and Human Flourishing.”
Regarding energy needs for data centers, Trump’s selection for the Interior Department, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, has been vocal about the necessity of expanding electricity production due to the soaring demand stemming from data centers and AI.
“The competition in AI impacts nearly every sector, from national security to healthcare, education, and productivity,” Burgum expressed on November 15. “The advancements we anticipate in AI over the next 18 months will be transformative, motivating an urgent response from the Trump administration.”
As demand for data centers has skyrocketed with the rise of cloud computing and AI, local governments are strategically vying to attract lucrative deals from major tech firms. Nevertheless, as these data centers strain resources, some residents are voicing their concerns regarding the economic, societal, and environmental implications for their communities.
On the topic of antitrust issues, attorney Paul Swanson from Holland & Hart commented, “Perhaps Big Tech could benefit from reading ‘The Art of The Deal’ to navigate negotiations with this administration more effectively. I wouldn’t be surprised if they manage to establish some compromises, leading to more negotiated agreements and settlements.”
While federal regulators began scrutinizing Google and Facebook during Trump’s initial presidency, the consensus among experts is that a second Trump term might see a reduction in antitrust enforcement and a more favorable view towards business mergers.
Trump previously suggested that breaking up Google was not in the national interest after a judge labeled its search engine a monopoly. However, the recent nominations from his transition team have leaned toward individuals critical of Big Tech, implying that Google may still face challenges.
Tim Cook’s historically complicated relationship with the European Union began back in 2016 with a tax ruling targeting Apple. Cook condemned the EU’s demand for Apple to return €13 billion in Irish back taxes as “outrageous.” During Trump’s presidency, he supported Cook, criticizing European Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who was leading the charge on tax deals and regulations against Big Tech, suggesting she “really dislikes the U.S.”
Despite Brussels eventually prevailing after Apple’s court appeal was dismissed earlier this year, Cook had still sought comfort from Trump, as he later recounted in a podcast.
In terms of monetary support, Altman, Amazon, and Meta have each pledged $1 million towards Trump’s inauguration fund. Benioff from Salesforce decided not to contribute due to his association with Time magazine, which recently recognized Trump as their “Person of The Year.” He light-heartedly remarked about providing the magazine cover image to Trump for promotional use.
Throughout Trump’s initial term, he openly criticized Amazon while Bezos voiced dissent against Trump’s rhetoric. In 2019, Amazon argued that Trump’s bias negatively impacted their chance at securing a $10 billion Pentagon contract. Nevertheless, Bezos has recently adopted a more conciliatory stance towards Trump, expressing optimism regarding the president-elect’s policies aimed at reducing regulations.
Meta’s contribution occurred shortly after Zuckerberg’s private meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Although Zuckerberg refrained from endorsing a presidential candidate during the 2024 campaign, he has shown signs of a more favorable outlook towards Trump, acknowledging his response to a previous assassination attempt. However, Trump has continued his public criticism of Zuckerberg in recent months.
Altman, currently in a legal dispute with Elon Musk, has expressed minimal concern about Musk’s sway in the incoming administration. Musk, a former OpenAI investor and board member, has accused the company of prioritizing profits over public benefit.
Discussing Musk, business professor Rob Lalka noted, “We have multi-billionaires like Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy working to cut what they claim will be trillions from the federal budget, including workforce reductions.” Musk appears to have unique access to the White House, placing him in a position to influence various policy matters including tech policy concerning artificial intelligence.
“Musk’s memorable arrival at Twitter’s headquarters with a sink creates a lasting image,” he stated. “He later shared a picture from the Oval Office with the same sink, captioning it ‘Let that sink in.’”