OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is under fire after Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) sent a letter accusing him of using political donations to gain favor with President-elect Donald Trump’s administration. The letter comes amid broader concerns about Big Tech’s recent shift toward Trump following his re-election.
Altman, one of several tech leaders who donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund, posted the letter on social media platform X, dismissing it as partisan criticism.
“Funny, they never sent me one of these for contributing to Democrats,” he wrote. In a statement, an OpenAI spokesperson said Altman views Trump’s leadership as pivotal for the U.S. to remain at the forefront of artificial intelligence and innovation.
The letter from Senators Warren and Bennet accuses Altman and other tech executives of using “million-dollar gifts” to Trump’s inaugural fund to curry favor and influence federal policies. The senators argue this raises concerns about corruption and undue influence on the incoming administration.
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Among the questions posed in the letter are inquiries about the rationale behind the donations and whether they were intended to avoid regulatory scrutiny. The lawmakers gave Altman until January 25 to respond.
Altman, however, countered that his contribution was a personal decision, unrelated to OpenAI’s corporate activities.
Altman’s donation is part of a broader trend of tech leaders softening their stance on Trump, a marked shift from the industry’s opposition during his first term. High-profile CEOs like Apple’s Tim Cook, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg have recently sought face time with the president-elect, signaling a pragmatic pivot.
Notably, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew also met with Trump, as the Chinese-owned app may shutdown Sunday. During his first term, Trump labeled TikTok a security threat, but his recent comments suggest he may reconsider the ban, particularly given his popularity on the platform.
READ: Tech Giants Meta, Amazon, Google, And OpenAI Cozy Up To Trump Admin In Rightward Shift
Experts suggest that Biden administration policies perceived as anti-business have driven Big Tech’s embrace of Trump. Marc Andreessen, a prominent tech investor, recently criticized Biden’s economic and tech policies as “anti-capitalist” and harmful to private innovation.
Under Biden, the Department of Justice initiated antitrust actions against Google, Meta, Amazon, and Apple, and implemented strict regulations on cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence. In contrast, Trump has promised a more hands-off approach to tech innovation, a stance that appeals to an industry wary of heavy-handed oversight.
“This shift is not just about politics; it’s about survival,” said Joel Thayer, a D.C.-based tech and telecom lawyer. “Trump’s policies align with the industry’s need for flexibility and growth, particularly in emerging fields like AI.”
While some see the tech industry’s shift as a pragmatic response to changing political dynamics, critics argue it reflects opportunism. “Big Tech’s newfound embrace of Trump is less about principles and more about avoiding regulatory headaches,” said one analyst.
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Trump’s proposed tariffs on Chinese goods, which could impact tech supply chains, and Biden’s policies on unrealized gains and energy regulations have heightened the stakes for tech companies. Apple, for example, relies heavily on Chinese manufacturing, with over 95% of its products made in China.
The renewed engagement between Big Tech and the Trump administration signals a recalibration in U.S. tech policy. As Trump prepares to take office, industry leaders appear eager to align with his administration’s pro-business agenda while navigating a landscape fraught with regulatory and geopolitical challenges.
Whether this realignment will translate into policy wins for the tech industry remains to be seen, but the shift underscores the evolving dynamics between Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C.
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