In a headline-grabbing move, Donald Trump recently unveiled Stargate, a $500 billion artificial intelligence infrastructure project. Marketed as a transformative initiative to cement America’s dominance in AI, Stargate has drawn backing from industry heavyweights like OpenAI, Softbank, Oracle, and MGX. But while the project promises to create jobs, fuel economic growth, and secure national security, the real story may lie in the people behind it—and their influence on Trump’s vision for America.
What Is Stargate?
At its core, Stargate is about building the infrastructure needed for cutting-edge AI systems. The project aims to construct 20 massive data centres across the U.S., each spanning 46,000 square meters, starting with a flagship site in Texas. These supercomputing hubs will provide the horsepower required for advanced AI models, particularly in generative AI, which demands extraordinary computational resources.
Trump has framed Stargate as a cornerstone of his efforts to “reindustrialize” America. By leaning on private investment instead of taxpayer dollars, the project promises to create hundreds of thousands of American jobs while showcasing the U.S. as a global leader in AI innovation.
But beneath the patriotic rhetoric lies a network of tech moguls, geopolitical manoeuvring, and unresolved rivalries.
The Billionaires Behind the Curtain
Stargate’s announcement has brought together some of the most powerful names in tech and finance:
- Sam Altman (OpenAI): Co-founder of OpenAI, Altman oversees the operational side of Stargate. Known for his ambitious vision of artificial general intelligence (AGI), Altman is simultaneously pitching Stargate as a solution for economic growth and a tool for elevating humanity.
- Masayoshi Son (Softbank): Softbank’s founder and the financial muscle behind Stargate, Son’s investment decisions often prioritize massive, high-risk ventures, making him a fitting figure to lead a project of this scale.
- Larry Ellison (Oracle): The Oracle co-founder brings expertise in cloud technology, which will be pivotal for Stargate’s infrastructure.
Conspicuously absent from this list is Elon Musk, despite his close ties to Trump and past involvement with OpenAI. Musk’s omission has sparked public and private tensions, with Musk openly questioning the financial stability of Stargate’s backers, particularly Softbank. His criticism, voiced on his platform X, comes amid his ongoing legal battles with OpenAI and his personal distrust of Sam Altman.
Why Trump Needs Stargate
For Trump, Stargate isn’t just about technology but legacy, power, and strategy. By championing such a monumental project, Trump reinforces his narrative of economic revitalization and U.S. dominance. Stargate plays into his broader agenda of countering China’s growing influence in AI and reasserting America’s technological supremacy.
Moreover, Stargate allows Trump to deepen his ties to tech elites—a group he previously struggled to court. Figures like Peter Thiel, David Sacks, and Jared Isaacman are already entrenched in Trump’s orbit. These individuals, part of the so-called “PayPal Mafia” and other Silicon Valley circles, align with Trump’s deregulatory, anti-establishment ethos. Their shared goals? Disrupt federal oversight, avoid restrictions on AI and cryptocurrency, and maintain a laissez-faire approach to innovation.
The Risks and Realities
While Stargate’s potential is immense, its risks are equally significant:
- Energy Consumption: The infrastructure will demand enormous power—comparable to a city like Miami—raising sustainability and feasibility concerns. Critics worry this aligns too closely with Trump’s fossil fuel agenda, further exacerbating climate issues.
- Lack of Regulation: Trump has dismantled the AI safeguards introduced under Biden, leaving Stargate free to develop without ethical oversight or transparency. This unregulated growth could lead to biased systems and further centralization of power.
- Geopolitical Tensions: With backing from MGX, a UAE tech fund, Stargate also ties America’s AI ambitions to international players, potentially complicating its geopolitical dynamics.
Yet for Trump, these risks are secondary to the project’s promise of creating a legacy-defining achievement. Stargate is a political and economic weapon designed to project American power at home and abroad.
The Musk Factor
Elon Musk’s public criticism of Stargate reflects a deeper fracture in Trump’s tech circle. Once an ally tasked with cutting government waste, Musk appears to be positioning himself as a counterweight to the project. His AI company, xAI, and his outspoken scepticism of Altman’s leadership suggest Musk sees Stargate as a missed opportunity for himself and a flawed endeavour that could harm the broader AI ecosystem.
Musk’s grievances highlight a fundamental question: Should AI development be centralized in massive, state-supported initiatives like Stargate, or should it remain decentralized to foster competition and innovation? This debate could define the trajectory of AI for years to come.
A Legacy in the Making—or the Breaking?
Stargate represents the convergence of Trump’s political ambitions and the tech elite’s quest for dominance in AI. For Trump, the project is a tool to bolster his image as a dealmaker and economic saviour. For the billionaires backing it, it’s a high-stakes gamble with potentially enormous rewards. And for critics like Musk, it’s a cautionary tale of concentrated power and unchecked ambition.
Will Stargate deliver on its promises, or will it become another symbol of overreach in the volatile world of tech and politics? One thing is certain: the future of AI—and perhaps Trump’s legacy—hangs in the balance.
