CEOs, Musk & Altman Join Trump-Saudi Tech Power Lunch
Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and other US tech giants joined Trump in Saudi Arabia for a high-stakes lunch on AI and trade. The gathering spotlighted growing US-Saudi business ties and the Kingdom’s massive tech investments.
US Tech Titans Break Bread with Trump and Saudi Leaders in Strategic Riyadh Summit
In a high-profile luncheon held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday, a powerhouse lineup of American CEOs sat down with former President Donald Trump and top Saudi officials to explore business opportunities that could redefine global tech and trade partnerships.
The guest list read like a who’s who of American innovation: Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Andy Jassy, Ruth Porat, and Jensen Huang were among the key figures who joined the table. The stakes were more than symbolic—this gathering signaled an intensifying alliance between Silicon Valley and one of the world’s most ambitious investors in artificial intelligence.
A Meeting Ground for Global Tech and Power
As Trump toured Saudi Arabia on what many analysts interpret as a soft-power economic mission, business leaders from a cross-section of industries—technology, finance, and defense—gathered to discuss partnerships that could bring billions in capital flow. For many, this was more than a photo-op; it was a chance to directly engage with Saudi decision-makers whose Vision 2030 plan aims to diversify the Kingdom’s economy beyond oil.
Saudi Arabia has already emerged as a global force in artificial intelligence investments, with its sovereign wealth funds backing everything from chip manufacturing to generative AI startups. The lunch provided US tech leaders a rare opportunity to pitch directly to these deep-pocketed investors.
Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and the AI Agenda
Among the most closely watched figures was Elon Musk, who has been balancing multiple roles—from leading Tesla and SpaceX to overseeing the emerging AI firm xAI. Musk’s presence underscored Saudi Arabia’s growing appetite for high-stakes tech bets, including recent talks that could value xAI at $120 billion.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, another major player at the table, has been vocal about the need for international collaboration in regulating and funding advanced AI. His appearance, alongside Nvidia’s Jensen Huang—whose chips power most of today’s AI systems—signaled strong alignment between American innovation and Saudi capital.
Ruth Porat of Alphabet and Andy Jassy of Amazon, two figures instrumental in shaping global cloud infrastructure and data services, also attended, highlighting the depth of the conversation around digital transformation.
Big Money, Big Influence
But it wasn’t just tech. Wall Street’s top brass was well represented with Larry Fink of BlackRock, Stephen Schwarzman of Blackstone, and Jane Fraser of Citigroup in attendance. Their presence pointed to Saudi Arabia’s status as a financial magnet for global institutions, particularly as the Kingdom doubles down on infrastructure, smart cities, and green energy projects.
The event also offered these executives a chance to influence US trade policy firsthand, with Trump cabinet veterans like Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick reportedly open to hearing their concerns—especially in light of tariffs and regulations that have rattled global markets.
A Convergence of Capital, Code, and Politics
This Riyadh luncheon was more than a diplomatic courtesy; it was a microcosm of the shifting sands in global influence. As Saudi Arabia invests billions in technologies that will define the next century, US firms are eager to align. The Kingdom’s push to become a leader in AI and digital infrastructure is accelerating at breakneck speed, and American firms don’t want to be left behind.
Even lesser-publicized attendees brought unique significance. Travis Kalanick, now leading Cloud Kitchens after his Uber days, points to Saudi interest in new business models. Meanwhile, leaders like Kathy Warden of Northrop Grumman and Arvind Krishna of IBM hint at potential defense-tech and quantum computing synergies.
What This Signals for the Future of Global Business
This gathering underscores a broader geopolitical truth: the future of tech and global commerce will be forged not just in Silicon Valley or Wall Street boardrooms, but in global corridors of power like Riyadh. As Saudi Arabia opens its doors to American enterprise and innovation, expect more cross-border partnerships that merge capital with code.
For US firms, the opportunity is immense—but so is the competition. With China also vying for influence in the Middle East, American executives are racing to secure their place in what’s fast becoming the next frontier of technological leadership.
Conclusion: An Alliance Built on Innovation and Influence
The Trump-era lunch in Riyadh marked more than a symbolic gesture—it was a calculated move to deepen US-Saudi ties through the lens of tech, finance, and influence. With leaders like Elon Musk and Sam Altman on board, and Saudi Arabia’s trillion-dollar ambitions laid bare, this high-stakes meal may well shape the global innovation landscape for years to come.
Disclaimer:
This article is a reimagined editorial based on publicly available news reports and does not represent any official statement from the individuals or companies mentioned. The perspectives offered are journalistic in nature and intended for informational purposes only.
source : The Economic Times