'Spent hours' asking Grok: Trump consulted Elon Musk's chatbot before Maduro's capture
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump reportedly spent hours consulting Elon Musk’s Grok about his presidency and how Venezuelans would react to Nicolás Maduro's removal, weeks before US forces captured the Venezuelan leader.
Trump came away impressed with the chatbot's answer on Venezuela, according to a TIME report published on Thursday, October 1.
The discussion came during a meeting with Musk a month before US forces captured Maduro in Caracas.
Grok became part of Trump's consideration of Venezuela
An official who attended the meeting told TIME that Trump had “spent hours” asking Grok about his presidency and legacy.
One question focused on how Venezuelans would react if Maduro were deposed.
The unnamed official said Grok predicted Venezuelans would likely celebrate the move because Maduro was an unpopular dictator.
After Maduro was captured, celebrations did break out in some Venezuelan diaspora communities.
The report added that Trump was "extremely impressed" with Grok after seeing the reaction to Maduro's removal, according to officials who spoke with TIME.
Trump gave the go-ahead for US air strikes in Venezuela on January 2, following months of planning for an operation called 'Absolute Resolve'.
The extraction took two and a half hours and involved bombers, fighters and helicopters.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken from Caracas on January 3 and moved to an assault ship in the Caribbean.
They passed through Guantanamo Bay before flying to New York.
The operation brought deaths and criminal charges
Cuba said 32 of its citizens were killed during the operation “after fierce resistance, in direct combat against the attackers or as a result of bombardments of installations.”
Maduro, who faces multiple federal charges in New York, has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to stand trial in June 2027.
The Grok consultation came despite a reported feud between Trump and Musk during the first year of Trump’s second term.
The Independent reported that Grok has continued to play a role in Trump’s presidency.
The newly unveiled America.gov chatbot is powered in part by Grok and Google’s Gemini, according to the outlet.
Trump’s AI support has extended beyond Venezuela.
Trump has continued to publicly support AI development
He signed an executive order for AI to be renamed to “super intelligence.”
TIME also reported that aides said Trump was dismissive of concerns about AI’s economic risks. When shown surveys from pollster Tony Fabrizio indicating Americans feared the economic consequences of potentially rogue technology, an unnamed aide said, “Trump really didn’t seem to care.”
“He wants to do what he wants to do,” the aide said. “He’s used to generating outrage and then watching everyone eventually crawl back to him. It’s hard to convince him to do anything at this point.”
In a Politico poll, a majority of respondents said there was at least some risk AI could destroy humanity, and nearly 17% said it was almost certain.
Trump has continued to promote the technology, writing on Truth Social: “WHOEVER WINS AI, WINS! We are leading China, and all others, and will continue to do so.”
