Trump Hosts Billion-Dollar AI Pledge Dinner with Tech Titans at White House

Tech's biggest names just placed their billion-dollar bets on artificial intelligence—and they did it over dinner at Trump's White House.

The Power Play

Silicon Valley's elite gathered behind closed doors, making commitments that reshape the entire AI landscape. No vague promises here—just concrete financial backing that signals where technology is heading next.

The Money Talks

While DC dines, Wall Street watches. Because nothing says 'innovation' like billion-dollar pledges that'll probably get written off as R&D expenses anyway—classic move for those who know how to play the tax code like a fiddle.

What's Next?

This isn't just talk. These commitments will drive AI development at breakneck speed, bypassing traditional funding routes and potentially reshaping entire industries within months.

Officials say Trump’s strategy is attracting money for AI infrastructure

Trump is trying to win over tech companies by cutting taxes and loosening rules. He says this will bring more investment to the U.S. and keep it ahead in new technology. The main focus is artificial intelligence.

In July, the WHITE House AI lead, Silicon Valley venture capitalist David Sacks, helped unveil a broad action plan calling for easing rules on artificial intelligence, stepping up research and development, and boosting domestic energy production to feed electricity-hungry data centers, moves the administration says are needed to keep an edge over rivals such as China.

The White House pointed to Hitachi Energy’s plan to invest over $1 billion in electric grid equipment to handle the growing power demands of AI. More companies are also launching U.S. projects to avoid new tariffs on imports. Trump has suggested that businesses building in the U.S. could get breaks from some of those tariffs.

Trump says Apple could sidestep chip tariffs

Cook told attendees that Apple last month committed an additional $100 billion for domestic manufacturing, bringing its total pledge to $600 billion.

He thanked Trump for “setting the tone such that we could make a major investment.” The president suggested that Apple’s commitment would help the company avoid tariffs on semiconductor imports that the administration plans to impose. “Tim Cook would be in pretty good shape,” Trump said of Apple’s position.

Trump’s ties with Silicon Valley strengthened at his January swearing-in, where Zuckerberg, Cook, and Pichai had prominent seats after donating millions to the inauguration. The president and his allies are expected to seek support again ahead of next year’s midterm elections that will determine control of Congress.

Earlier Thursday, many of the same executives joined first lady Melania Trump for a discussion on AI. She praised the business leaders as visionaries and urged cooperation to help guide the broader adoption of the technology.

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