Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has undergone a significant transformation from being a vocal critic of Donald Trump to becoming one of his key advisors on artificial intelligence. This shift follows Altman's strategic cultivation of relationships within Trump's circle and his alignment with Trump's vision for AI infrastructure development to compete with China.
Altman, who once compared Trump to Hitler and called him "unfit to be President and a threat to US national security," now enjoys regular White House access and influence over crucial AI policy decisions. The transformation culminated in June when Altman dined with Trump at his New Jersey golf club, with the president introducing him as "a very brilliant man" to applauding members.
This warm reception contrasts sharply with Altman's earlier exclusion from Mar-a-Lago meetings and relegation to the inauguration overflow room rather than the main stage with fellow tech CEOs. Altman's rise coincided with Elon Musk's spectacular departure from Trump's inner circle in May, following disagreements over the president's "Big Beautiful Bill" spending legislation.
Altman's strategic pivot pays off as Musk's relationship deteriorates. He began building relationships through influential MAGA lobbyist Jeff Miller and Trump campaign adviser Chris LaCivita while securing backing from Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison. His $1 million inauguration donation helped secure access, leading to the high-profile announcement of the $500 billion Stargate AI infrastructure partnership.
Altman's shift began during the Biden administration when he grew disillusioned with Democratic economic and AI policies. He warned government contacts that Covid-era stimulus would cause inflation and considered the CHIPS Act's $50 billion semiconductor investment "laughably small." The Biden administration's chip export restrictions also thwarted his plans to build AI infrastructure in the Middle East.
