Trump’s new bestie is another billionaire tech titan who former ally Elon Musk can’t stand
WASHINGTON, DC: As Elon Musk's once-powerful alliance with Donald Trump crumbles in a storm of public feuds and political fallout, a new tech titan is rising to take his place. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has quietly stepped into the spotlight, emerging as Trump’s unexpected new favorite in Silicon Valley.
With Musk pushed to the sidelines after clashing with the president over the controversial "Big Beautiful Bill," Altman now stands poised to become a central figure in shaping the future of AI policy in Washington.
Sam Altman cozies up to Donald Trump
With Elon Musk pushed to the margins following a highly publicized fallout with Donald Trump, Sam Altman has quietly entered into the role of the administration’s go-to authority on artificial intelligence, as per the Wall Street Journal.
As CEO of OpenAI, Altman is now positioned at the forefront of an industry poised for explosive growth, an ascent that could dramatically boost his estimated $1.8 billion fortune.
This new alignment with Trump offers Altman a rare opportunity to influence the federal government’s approach to AI regulation. Just one day after Trump’s inauguration, Altman appeared alongside SoftBank chairman Masayoshi Son and Oracle founder Larry Ellison to unveil a sweeping $500 billion AI initiative known as Stargate.
The project aims to build nationwide AI infrastructure, including advanced data centers and training hubs for next-generation models.
Stargate had been quietly in development for months but was strategically launched after Trump took office, allowing the president to claim credit for the massive endeavor.
During the announcement, Altman openly praised Trump, stating, "We wouldn’t be able to do this without you, Mr President."
By June, the bond between Altman and Trump had become more visible. At an event held at Trump’s golf club in New Jersey, the president introduced Altman as a "brilliant man," expressing hope in his AI vision.
The budding alliance surprised many, given Altman's previously strong Democratic ties — he supported Hillary Clinton in 2016, likened Trump to Adolf Hitler, and donated to former President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign.
Sam Altman walks back his earlier criticisms of Donald Trump
Over time, Sam Altman began to soften his stance on President Donald Trump, gradually walking back his earlier criticisms. When Elon Musk resurfaced old tweets in which Altman had harshly condemned Trump, the OpenAI CEO dismissed them, saying his perspective had since evolved.
watching @potus more carefully recently has really changed my perspective on him (i wish i had done more of my own thinking and definitely fell in the npc trap).
— Sam Altman (@sama) January 23, 2025
i'm not going to agree with him on everything, but i think he will be incredible for the country in many ways!
In a candid post, Altman admitted, “Watching @potus more carefully recently has really changed my perspective on him (i wish i had done more of my own thinking and definitely fell in the npc [non-player character] trap).”
He added, “I'm not going to agree with him on everything, but i think he will be incredible for the country in many ways!”
On Independence Day, Altman made his political shift more explicit, declaring that the Democratic Party had "lost the plot." While he stopped short of embracing the Republican label, he described himself as “politically homeless,” signaling a move toward the political center, or possibly the Trump-aligned tech sphere.
Sam Altman and Elon Musk's rivalry began in 2018
Sam Altman and Elon Musk once stood side by side as co-founders of OpenAI, launching the non-profit in 2015 with a shared mission, to ensure the ethical development of artificial intelligence in an increasingly high-stakes tech landscape.
But by 2018, their partnership had disintegrated in spectacular fashion, marking one of the most high-profile breakups in the tech world.
As competition in AI intensified, particularly from tech giants like Google and Amazon, OpenAI transitioned into a public benefit corporation to keep pace with industry demands.
Musk, disillusioned by the shift from their original nonprofit vision, publicly criticized the decision and cut ties with the company. That same year, he launched his own AI venture, xAI, sparking a fierce and ongoing rivalry with Altman.
Musk’s ambitions didn’t stop at technology. He soon cemented himself as a key political player by taking the helm of Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), gaining considerable influence within the administration. While Musk, along with fellow billionaires Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos, appeared to grow increasingly close to Trump, Altman found himself on the political and strategic sidelines.
However, the alliance between Musk and Trump eventually crumbled. Their falling out centered on Trump’s controversial "Big Beautiful Bill", which Musk lambasted as fiscally irresponsible. The rift deepened when Musk publicly alleged that Trump appeared in the Jeffrey Epstein files, an explosive accusation that further alienated him from the administration.
The Epstein scandal, amplified by claims that Trump once drew Epstein a lewd birthday sketch, only added to the chaos and Musk’s growing isolation from Washington’s inner circle.
