Elon Musk Attempted to Sabotage Sam Altman’s Abu Dhabi AI Data Center Deal: WSJ

The TRUMP administration has thrown its weight behind OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, despite his public clashes with Elon Musk. According to a Wall Street Journal report, Musk sought to undermine a landmark deal between OpenAI and a consortium of major U.S. tech firms to construct one of the world’s largest AI data centers in Abu Dhabi.

The $2 billion Stargate UAE project, developed in partnership with UAE-backed G42, became a flashpoint in the ongoing rivalry between the two tech titans. Musk allegedly warned G42 executives during a May phone call that the deal wouldn’t receive WHITE House approval unless his xAI startup was included. The intervention came just before former President Trump’s Middle East tour, where both Musk and Altman were scheduled to attend final negotiations.

Industry observers note the incident reflects growing tensions in the AI infrastructure race, with geopolitical considerations increasingly shaping technological partnerships. The aborted interference attempt follows Musk’s January social media attacks on the Stargate project’s funding viability, suggesting deeper competitive animosities beneath the surface.