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At White House dinner, Big Tech leaders praise Trump’s policies as Google CEO celebrates relief from landmark antitrust trial.
Tech CEOs gather at White House dinner as Pichai lauds administration’s constructive dialogue on AI, investments, and monopoly case outcome
Google CEO Sundar Pichai publicly expressed gratitude to President Donald Trump just days after the tech giant narrowly avoided major penalties in a landmark antitrust case over its dominance in online search.
Pichai, joined by Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, Apple’s Tim Cook, Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, and OpenAI’s Sam Altman, attended a high-profile White House dinner on Thursday night where discussions centered on U.S. investments, manufacturing, and artificial intelligence.
The evening turned candid when Trump pointed to Pichai and remarked, “Google had a very good day yesterday,” referencing the company’s stock surge of nearly 10% after U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta’s ruling.
“I’m glad it’s over,” Pichai responded, drawing laughter from the room. He added, “It was a long process. Appreciate that your administration had a constructive dialogue, and we were able to get it to some resolution.”
Judge Mehta had earlier declared Google a “monopolist” but rejected the Justice Department’s call for a breakup, including the sale of Chrome. Instead, the ruling allowed Google to continue its search default payment arrangements with companies like Apple, though exclusive partnerships were barred. Google was also ordered to share certain data with rivals to ensure fair competition.
The case, first filed in 2020 during Trump’s first term, was pursued under the Biden administration. Trump, however, reminded Pichai that “Biden was the one who prosecuted that lawsuit.”
While Thursday’s decision marks a significant reprieve for Google, the company still faces the prospect of a breakup in a separate case targeting its digital advertising practices.
The dinner showcased an unusual chorus of praise from Silicon Valley’s biggest names toward the president.
Pichai emphasized the historic opportunity around artificial intelligence: “The AI moment is one of the most transformative moments any of us have ever seen or will see in our lifetimes. Making sure the U.S. is at the forefront — and I think your administration is investing a lot — already the AI action plan under your leadership is a great start, and we look forward to working together.”
Apple CEO Tim Cook credited Trump for creating the right environment for large-scale domestic investment. “Setting the tone such that we can make a major investment in the United States and have some key manufacturing here” was crucial, he said. Apple has pledged $600 billion in U.S. projects.
OpenAI’s Sam Altman added his endorsement, calling Trump “a pro-business, pro-innovation president.”
Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, seated next to Trump, also engaged closely with the president throughout the evening, which was initially scheduled for the newly-renovated Rose Garden but moved indoors due to rain.
For Pichai, the dinner capped off a week of relief. While antitrust critics blasted Judge Mehta’s decision as a “slap on the wrist,” Google emerged largely unscathed in the search case, preserving the very business practices at the heart of its dominance.
With AI investment, domestic manufacturing, and digital competition at the forefront of U.S. policy debates, the event highlighted the delicate dance between Big Tech and Washington — one where Pichai and his peers appear eager to stay in step with Trump’s agenda.
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