With Trump's second term, Big Tech embraces U.S. exceptionalism
The Hindu
Big tech companies are increasingly waving the U.S. flag in Washington where President Donald Trump is back in charge.
Big tech companies are increasingly waving the U.S. flag in Washington where President Donald Trump is back in charge, pushing his America First agenda.
Leading this performance of nationalism are Meta, OpenAI and, more predictably, Palantir, the AI defence company founded by Peter Thiel, the conservative tech billionaire who has played a major role in Silicon Valley's rightward shift.
But the full-throated call to defend the nation, often paired with warnings about communist China or Europe's regulation, raises concerns about alienating international partners who represent a significant portion of big tech's business.
In the defence industry, U.S. companies have historically balanced pro-American positioning with patriotic discretion to attract international business.
But Mr. Trump and Vice President JD Vance routinely denigrate close allies, all while promoting a nationalist agenda that many U.S. companies feel little choice but to endorse.
While Saudi Arabia and other oil-rich Arab states largely escape Mr. Trump's ire, they are investing billions in U.S. AI projects and building their own ventures with White House backing.
Perhaps most surprising is ChatGPT maker OpenAI's embrace of American exceptionalism.
