Trump hosts dinner with tech giants at the White House, but Elon Musk didn’t attend
President Trump hosted a high-profile dinner at the White House on Thursday night, bringing together tech giants and other business and political leaders. Among the attendees were Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, OpenAI founder Sam Altman, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. The event was a gathering of some of the most influential figures in the tech industry, with President Trump praising them for their leadership and innovative contributions to business.
During the dinner, President Trump was seated next to Zuckerberg, while Gates sat next to the first lady Melania Trump. The president highlighted the intellectual prowess of the group, referring to them as a “high-IQ group” that he was proud of. Several of the executives, including Zuckerberg, Nadella, and Pichai, were invited to speak during the event.
Gates, known for his philanthropic work in public health, focused his remarks on advancements in vaccine technology. He commended President Trump’s Operation Warp Speed initiative for the COVID-19 vaccine and emphasized the importance of ongoing research for diseases like HIV and sickle cell anemia. When asked about Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic, President Trump expressed confidence in him, describing him as a “very good person” with a unique perspective on healthcare.
Notably absent from the dinner was Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who confirmed that he had been invited but was unable to attend. Musk, who had a public falling-out with President Trump earlier in the year, has been vocal about his disagreements with the administration’s policies. Despite their differences, President Trump predicted that Musk would eventually return to the Republican Party, praising him as a “man of common sense” and a “good man.”
The dinner, which was briefly open to press cameras before continuing behind closed doors, was part of President Trump’s efforts to maintain close relationships with tech CEOs. Several tech leaders have previously visited the White House to discuss various issues, including manufacturing in the U.S. and semiconductor production. President Trump has urged tech companies to increase their presence in the U.S. and has even threatened tariffs on imported semiconductors to incentivize domestic production.
Overall, the dinner was a gathering of influential figures in the tech industry, showcasing the close ties between the administration and business leaders. The event underscored the importance of collaboration between government and industry to drive innovation and economic growth.
