Trump Dismisses Musk’s Criticism of $500B AI Project: “He Hates One of the People”

Amid a tense public feud between Elon Musk and Sam Altman, President Trump defends his ambitious $500 billion AI investment plan, downplaying Musk’s doubts about funding and backing the project’s key backers.

In a sharp exchange of words that has captured the attention of both tech and political circles, President Donald Trump shrugged off Elon Musk’s criticism of his recent $500 billion artificial intelligence (AI) announcement, attributing the tech mogul’s skepticism to personal animus rather than a legitimate concern about the project’s viability. The back-and-forth between Musk and Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has fueled tensions around the ambitious AI initiative unveiled by Trump on Tuesday.

Musk, known for his outspoken views, took to his X social media platform shortly after Trump’s announcement, questioning the financial backing behind the deal and casting doubt on the capability of the companies involved. Musk suggested that SoftBank, one of the key investors, had “well under $10B” secured for the project, undermining the feasibility of the investment. However, Trump responded swiftly at a White House press conference on Thursday, dismissing Musk’s comments as a manifestation of personal grievances.

“No, he hates one of the people,” Trump said in reference to Musk’s apparent disdain for Sam Altman, who is set to play a pivotal role in the project. The President continued, “I’ve spoken to Elon, but—spoken to all of them, actually. The people in the deal are very, very smart people– but Elon, one of the people he happens to hate. But I have certain hatreds of people too.” Trump’s comments suggest that the friction between Musk and Altman is far from a professional disagreement, but rather a clash of personal differences.

Despite Musk’s critical remarks, Trump stood by the financial commitments from the participating companies, which include OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank. Trump made it clear that the government would not be directly funding the project, as the companies themselves would be putting up the necessary capital. “They’re putting up money—the government’s not putting up anything. They’re very rich people, so I hope they do,” Trump explained.

The AI initiative, dubbed Stargate, is expected to lay the groundwork for the growth of artificial intelligence infrastructure in the U.S. The companies behind the project are poised to invest $100 billion initially, with plans to increase that amount to $500 billion in the coming years. The leaders of SoftBank, OpenAI, and Oracle stood alongside Trump during the announcement, further solidifying the support behind the venture.

However, tensions between Musk and Altman have been escalating, particularly due to an ongoing lawsuit involving Musk and OpenAI. Musk has long expressed dissatisfaction with the direction of OpenAI, accusing Altman and the organization of deviating from its original nonprofit mission. Musk has also claimed that the most advanced AI technologies, such as ChatGPT, are being withheld from the public in favor of private, lucrative clients. The dispute has turned personal, with Musk sharing past posts critical of Trump from Altman’s own social media account.

Despite the discord, Trump appeared unbothered by Musk’s public criticisms. “I don’t know if they do, but you know, they’re putting up the money—they’re very rich people,” Trump told reporters, maintaining a tone of confidence in the project’s success.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also weighed in on the situation, urging the public to trust the words of President Trump and the CEOs involved in Stargate. In a Fox News interview, Leavitt dismissed Musk’s skepticism, asserting that the American people should take the project’s backers at their word.

As the battle over the future of AI infrastructure continues to unfold, one thing is clear: tensions between key players in the tech world are unlikely to subside any time soon. With high stakes and a $500 billion investment on the table, the feud between Musk and Altman adds another layer of complexity to an already ambitious initiative.