**Apple CEO Tim Cook and Tech Leaders Commend Trump at White House AI Gathering**
A noteworthy assembly of technology sector leaders occurred at the White House yesterday, overseen by First Lady Melania Trump, concentrating on artificial intelligence (AI) and its future ramifications. Apple CEO Tim Cook was present among other influential figures such as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, and IBM CEO Arvind Krishna.
### Taking Turns to Commend Trump
As reported by *The Wall Street Journal*, the gathering mirrored President Trump’s cabinet sessions, with each tech CEO taking the opportunity to express appreciation and praise for the President’s policy initiatives. The conversations primarily centered on Trump’s initiatives to encourage investment in chip production and AI advancement.
During his turn, Sam Altman recognized Trump’s business-friendly approach, contrasting it with the policies of the current Biden administration. Cook echoed this sentiment, underscoring Apple’s dedication to domestic investments, crediting the President’s leadership. 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.” This comment highlighted Apple’s recent $600 billion American Manufacturing Program aimed at enhancing local output.
### Significant Discussions on Antitrust Matters
The event also featured conversations on recent legal occurrences affecting major technology firms. President Trump queried Sundar Pichai about a favorable decision in an antitrust lawsuit that could have compelled Google to divest its Chrome and Android systems. Trump commented, “You had a very good day yesterday,” to which Pichai replied, “I’m glad it’s over.” Trump further noted that the lawsuit had been initiated under the Biden administration, emphasizing the political implications of the dialogue.
### Noteworthy Absences
Although the event showcased numerous top figures from the tech industry, some prominent absentees, including Elon Musk and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, sparked inquiries regarding their nonattendance at such a crucial gathering.
### Conclusion
The White House event highlighted the ongoing connection between the tech sector and government, particularly concerning AI and manufacturing. As technology leaders continue to navigate the intricacies of regulation and innovation, their engagements with political figures are likely to influence the future trajectory of technology in the United States.
