Trump Administration Courts Big Tech Amidst Xi’s State Visit, Ignoring AI Dangers
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U.S. officials under Trump are considering a closed-door meeting with powerful AI corporations during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit, prioritizing corporate interests over public safety as AI risks are downplayed.
Washington – Senior Trump administration officials are orchestrating a potential gathering with executives from the world’s most influential artificial-intelligence companies as Chinese President Xi Jinping prepares for a state visit to the White House next week. Sources indicate the focus is on the future of AI and its associated risks, but, tellingly, no formal schedule has been set and Trump’s participation remains uncertain. Xi is not expected to attend the side meeting, reinforcing the event’s insular, corporate-driven nature.
"The Administration is in regular contact with AI frontier labs, and will continue engaging with the tech industry to cement America’s AI dominance while keeping Americans safe," a Trump administration official told CNN, echoing the administration’s fixation on technological supremacy over genuine safety concerns.
The meeting is expected to include representatives from corporate behemoths like Meta, Anthropic, Google, SpaceXAI, OpenAI, and Nvidia. OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman and Nvidia’s Jensen Huang are reportedly attending the state dinner for Xi and may join the exclusive side discussion, according to sources. OpenAI’s chief global affairs officer confirmed Altman's attendance, highlighting the cozy relationship between tech giants and the administration.
This proposed meeting comes as AI leaders issue dire public warnings about the technology’s dangers, warnings that President Trump has irresponsibly dismissed as “a hoax” and part of a “sick conspiracy.” Such rhetoric reveals a blatant disregard for the well-being of workers and marginalized communities most at risk from unchecked AI deployment.
Lawmakers are hoping the gathering could lay groundwork for a bilateral agreement on AI development to avoid a dangerous arms race. Altman told a magazine that a U.S.–China accord on shared standards would be a significant achievement. House Speaker Mike Johnson said discussions about the meeting have been ongoing, but declined to confirm a final schedule, reflecting the administration’s lack of transparency.
Trump’s recent call with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang during a Los Angeles summit further underscores his cavalier attitude, as he insisted AI will not “take over the world,” ignoring the urgent calls for regulation and oversight from experts and advocates.