>Bending Knees – President Trump Hosts Tech Executives at White House for Dinner
Meet all 33 Silicon Valley power players at Trump’s high-profile tech dinner — and Elon Musk’s explanation for why he wasn’t there
Dave SmithBy Dave SmithEditor, U.S. News
September 5, 2025 at 10:42 AM EDT
President Trump hosted 33 Silicon Valley leaders including Sam Altman, Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cook, and Bill Gates at a White House dinner Thursday. Attendees announced billions in U.S. investments while Elon Musk was notably absent amid their ongoing feud. The gathering marked Silicon Valley’s strategic realignment with Trump’s administration on AI and technology policies.
President Donald Trump convened some of Silicon Valley’s most influential figures Thursday evening at the White House, hosting a high-profile dinner that underscored the tech industry’s evolving relationship with his administration. The gathering in the newly renovated Rose Garden brought together 33 attendees, including CEOs from major technology companies, venture capitalists, and administration officials. With 13 billionaires in attendance and many others worth millions of dollars, the event was easily one of the wealthiest gatherings in the history of the White House.
Notably absent from the dinner were Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO and former Trump ally, and Jensen Huang, Nvidia’s chief executive and Fortune‘s Most Powerful Person in Business. Musk claimed on social media that he “was invited, but unfortunately could not attend,” though initial reports suggested he was not on the guest list. Huang, meanwhile, has a pattern of skipping high-profile events, preferring direct one-on-one meetings.
The event followed an AI education summit hosted earlier that day by First Lady Melania Trump and served as the first major gathering in the Rose Garden since its renovation was completed in August 2025.
The dinner underscored Silicon Valley’s strategic realignment with the Trump administration, as companies seek favorable regulatory treatment and government contracts while positioning themselves for the AI boom. Several attendees announced significant U.S. investment commitments: Trump asked Mark Zuckerberg directly, for instance, how much he was planning on committing to the U.S., and the Facebook founder responded with $600 billion through 2028.
The event marked a significant evolution from Trump’s historically contentious relationship with Big Tech, reflecting the industry’s recognition that cooperation with the administration serves their business interests in an increasingly competitive global technology landscape.
The 33 Attendees: Who’s who of tech and politics
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President Donald Trump
The host and 47th President of the United States, Trump has aggressively courted the tech industry during his second term, seeking investment commitments and closer cooperation on artificial intelligence initiatives.
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First Lady Melania Trump
The First Lady chairs the newly formed AI Education Task Force, which held its inaugural meeting earlier that day. She sat next to Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates during the dinner.
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Susie Wiles
Trump’s White House Chief of Staff and the first woman to hold the position. The 67-year-old veteran political strategist has been credited with running Trump’s most disciplined campaign in 2024. Born in New Jersey, she began her political career working for Congressman Jack Kemp before joining Ronald Reagan’s 1980 presidential campaign. Wiles spent much of her career in Florida politics, managing campaigns for mayors, governors, and eventually becoming Trump’s Florida campaign manager in 2016. She served as co-campaign manager for Trump’s successful 2024 bid.
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Sergey Brin
The 52-year-old Google co-founder, born in Moscow in 1973, immigrated to the United States with his family at age six to escape Soviet antisemitism. He earned degrees from the University of Maryland and Stanford, where he met Larry Page and co-founded Google in 1998. Brin stepped down from Alphabet’s day-to-day operations in 2019 but returned to lead AI efforts following ChatGPT’s launch in 2023. With an estimated net worth of $191 billion, he ranks among the world’s wealthiest individuals. At the dinner, Trump praised Brin’s “wonderful MAGA girlfriend,” referring to Gerelyn Gilbert-Soto.
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Gerelyn Gilbert-Soto
Brin’s girlfriend, who drew attention when Trump during the dinner, is the founder of GG Health Coach, helping people achieve better health through balanced nutrition and lifestyle changes. She appeared starstruck when Trump asked her to speak, expressing gratitude for being in his presence.