A relationship that once began with insults and opposition has now evolved into behind-the-scenes collaboration and private meetings with the former U.S. president.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, after months of behind-the-scenes rivalry with Elon Musk, is now serving as a key advisor to Donald Trump on artificial intelligence. This marks a significant shift from Altman’s previous stance toward the former president of the United States. According to The Wall Street Journal, Altman—who once called Trump an unprecedented threat to America—now regularly visits the White House and plays a crucial role in shaping AI-related policies.
The turning point in the Altman-Trump relationship came in June 2024, when Altman was a special guest at Trump’s dinner event at the New Jersey golf club and was introduced to attendees with praise from the president. This scene stands in stark contrast to previous years, when Altman wasn’t even invited to main events and remained on the sidelines during inauguration ceremonies. Meanwhile, Elon Musk, due to political disagreements with Trump—particularly over financial issues—was pushed out of the president’s inner circle, culminating in public insults from Trump directed at Musk.
According to The India Times, in this environment, Altman gradually secured his position with support from key Republican figures, including influential lobbyist Jeff Miller and Trump campaign advisor Chris LaCivita. Backing from powerful billionaire Larry Ellison and a $1 million donation by Altman to the inauguration helped elevate him to a point where the announcement of the $500 billion “Stargate” AI infrastructure project was made in partnership with Trump.
But Altman’s political shift is not limited to public relations. Once a staunch supporter of the Democratic Party who donated $200,000 to Biden’s campaign, the OpenAI CEO stated in July 2024 that he no longer considers himself a Democrat. He criticized the Democrats’ economic policies, pandemic-era subsidies, and the CHIPS Act, arguing that they have hindered the development of global AI infrastructure.
Unlike Musk’s confrontational approach, Altman has focused on aligning with Trump’s constructive and competitive persona. During a meeting in Las Vegas, OpenAI executives showcased the Sora video generation tool to Trump and urged the removal of environmental restrictions to accelerate infrastructure development. Trump quickly embraced the message and, in an interview with Logan Paul, emphasized that the U.S. must outpace China in the AI race through massive investment. Now, artificial intelligence has become a core part of Trump’s campaign platform, with Altman at the center of these efforts.
