On September 4, 2025, President Donald Trump hosted a distinguished dinner at the White House, bringing together leaders from the technology sector to discuss advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and domestic manufacturing. The event was attended by prominent figures including Apple CEO Tim Cook, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, and IBM CEO Arvind Krishna.
During the dinner, each executive had the opportunity to address the President, expressing appreciation for his administration’s initiatives in promoting technological innovation and investment in the United States. Sam Altman highlighted the administration’s pro-business stance, stating, Thank you for being such a pro-business, pro-innovation president.
Tim Cook took the opportunity to acknowledge Apple’s recent investments in domestic manufacturing, attributing them to the supportive environment fostered by the administration. He remarked, I want to thank you for setting the tone such that we can make a major investment in the United States and have some key manufacturing here. I think it says a lot about your leadership and focus on innovation.
Cook’s comments refer to Apple’s American Manufacturing Program, a comprehensive initiative aimed at bolstering the company’s manufacturing presence within the United States. This program encompasses a $600 billion investment over the next five years, focusing on the development of new manufacturing facilities, the expansion of existing plants, and the creation of numerous jobs across various states. The initiative underscores Apple’s commitment to contributing to the U.S. economy and aligns with the administration’s emphasis on domestic production and technological advancement.
The dinner also provided a platform for discussions on recent developments in the tech industry. President Trump addressed Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai regarding the favorable outcome of an antitrust case that had the potential to compel the company to divest from key assets such as Chrome and Android, and to cease partnerships with companies like Apple and Mozilla. Trump commented, You had a very good day yesterday. Do you want to talk about that big day you had yesterday? Pichai responded, I’m glad it’s over. The President added, Biden was the one who prosecuted that lawsuit. You know that, right?
Notably, the event saw the absence of Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, as well as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. Their nonattendance was observed by attendees and media alike, though no official statements were provided regarding their absence.
The gathering at the White House highlights the ongoing dialogue between the administration and the technology sector, emphasizing a shared commitment to fostering innovation, enhancing domestic manufacturing capabilities, and maintaining the United States’ leadership in technological advancements.
