On September 4, 2025, President Donald Trump hosted a high-profile dinner at the White House, bringing together some of the biggest names in technology. Leaders from companies like Meta, Microsoft, Apple, Google, and OpenAI attended the event in the State Dining Room. The dinner was a platform for tech CEOs to praise Trump’s leadership, particularly his efforts to boost U.S. investments in chip manufacturing and artificial intelligence (AI). Notably absent was Elon Musk, a former Trump ally, who said he was invited but could not attend.
A Gathering of Tech Giants
The guest list read like a who’s who of the tech world. Attendees included Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Google’s Sergey Brin and Sundar Pichai, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, among others. The dinner came at a critical time for the tech industry, which is pushing for a hands-off government approach to AI regulation while navigating scrutiny from figures like FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson, a vocal critic of Big Tech.
During the dinner, each CEO took turns thanking Trump for his pro-business and pro-innovation policies. Zuckerberg, seated next to the president, highlighted Meta’s commitment to invest at least $600 billion in U.S. data centers and infrastructure through 2028. Gates, sitting beside First Lady Melania Trump, praised Trump for creating an environment that supports major U.S. investments in advanced manufacturing. Altman went further, calling Trump a “pro-innovation president” whose leadership would help the U.S. lead globally in AI.
Trump’s Tech-Friendly Agenda
Trump’s second term has marked a shift in his relationship with Silicon Valley. Once at odds with the tech industry, he has now embraced policies that align with its interests, such as promoting cryptocurrencies and opposing restrictive tech regulations abroad. His administration’s AI blueprint, released in June 2025, aims to loosen environmental rules and expand AI exports to allies, a stark contrast to the Biden administration’s more restrictive approach. Trump has also pushed for increased U.S. manufacturing, with companies like Apple announcing significant investments, including an additional $100 billion for its U.S. operations.
The dinner followed an earlier White House event hosted by Melania Trump, focused on an AI education initiative. She declared, “The robots are here. Our future is no longer science fiction,” emphasizing the growing role of AI in society. Venture capitalist David Sacks, recently appointed as Trump’s AI and crypto czar, also spoke at the event, thanking tech leaders for “putting America first” in their AI efforts.
A Lighthearted Moment and a Notable Absence
The dinner wasn’t without its lighter moments. When a reporter asked Zuckerberg about online freedom of speech issues in the U.K., the Meta CEO appeared caught off guard. Trump, seizing the moment, jokingly remarked, “This is the beginning of your political career,” prompting laughter. Zuckerberg, in a hot mic moment, admitted to the president, “Sorry, I wasn’t ready.”
Elon Musk’s absence was a point of intrigue. Despite his earlier role in Trump’s administration, leading the Department of Government Efficiency, Musk has clashed with the president and other tech leaders. Recently, he accused Apple of antitrust violations and criticized OpenAI, a company he co-founded before parting ways. Musk confirmed on X that he was invited to the dinner but couldn’t attend, with a representative from his company present instead.
Why It Matters
The dinner underscores the tech industry’s strategic alignment with Trump’s administration as it seeks to shape AI policy and maintain U.S. dominance in the global tech race, particularly against China. Many of the attending CEOs had donated to Trump’s inauguration fund earlier in 2025 and pledged billions in U.S. investments, signaling a warming relationship with the president. However, the absence of Musk, one of the industry’s most prominent figures, highlights lingering tensions within the tech world.
As Trump continues to champion policies that favor innovation and deregulation, the tech industry appears eager to work with his administration. The White House dinner was not just a meal but a public display of mutual support between a president and an industry poised to shape the future.