On Monday morning in Los Angeles, the All-In Summit saw an unusual highlight when Former President Donald Trump called Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang live during the event, surprising not only the audience but also a number of leading tech investors and White House advisers who were present. Trump used the moment to comment on America’s direction in artificial intelligence and its position in the global tech landscape.
AI Innovation Backed: Trump’s Call and Industry Support
While onstage with the All-In podcast hosts—venture capitalists Chamath Palihapitiya, Jason Calacanis, along with White House advisers David Friedberg and David Sacks—Jensen Huang received Trump’s call. Choosing to include the audience, Huang put the call on speaker after joking with Trump, “You’re onstage with the besties,” in a nod to the hosts at his side, while explaining he needed another microphone for everyone to hear. During their exchange, Trump joked, “The great thing about life is Jensen can develop the most complex computer chip in the world … but he can’t figure out how to put you on speaker.”
Clashing Perspectives: Speed of AI Progress
Before Trump’s call, the summit had focused on Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei’s proposal to “slow the pace at which we improve the capabilities of AI.” Amodei’s suggestion has found allies in SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. However, both Trump and Huang spoke out against any deceleration, with Trump telling the crowd, “They’re just playing right in the hands of a lot of people that don’t want to see it happen. That could be political people. It could also be China. And we’re not going to let that happen. It’s a hoax.” After Trump’s statement, Huang replied, “You’re right. We’re not going to let that happen, sir,” which drew applause from the attendees.
Data Center Opposition: Public Opinion Versus Leadership Framing
Trump also weighed in on the pushback over new data center developments, an issue he and supporters like Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan describe as part of an international psyop against U.S. economic progress. In reality, most community resistance relates to the environmental impact and local effects of data centers. Data from a recent Gallup poll shows seven in ten Americans are against constructing data centers in their neighborhoods, with more than 50% referencing concern for environmental resources. Around 20% cited fears of rising costs of living and diminished quality of life as reasons for their opposition.
Trying to balance the conversation, Trump commented, “We have to be a little bit careful … We have to do things and we have to do them prudently, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to stop an industry. So I’m with you all the way. I didn’t even know how you felt about it. I just hoped you felt the same way as me. We’re going to lead.”
Looking Ahead: Balancing Technology, Policy, and Public Opinion
This onstage phone conversation highlighted the ongoing tension among U.S. political leadership, tech industry leaders, and public attitudes regarding artificial intelligence and related infrastructure. As leaders try to preserve the nation’s edge in AI development, they must also address environmental and societal concerns voiced by a significant segment of the population about the growing presence of data centers.