A year after Trump's inauguration: How have big tech companies changed since then?
    Negocios y Empresas

    A year after Trump's inauguration: How have big tech companies changed since then?

    Paloma Firgaira
    2026-01-20
    5 min read
    Trump does not need to resort to concepts like "technological sovereignty" in the European style, as the United States already has unparalleled technological capacity. However, in the global struggle for leadership, one factor is decisive: China remains the world's factory, and the president seeks for major U.S. tech companies to gradually relocate their production to the country, although cost competition with China remains an almost insurmountable challenge. To favor giants like Apple, Google, or Microsoft, Trump has opted for a deregulation policy, in contrast to the European Union, which prioritizes privacy protection. He has also focused on artificial intelligence, where OpenAI has emerged alongside industry veterans, responsible for launching ChatGPT in November 2022, a catalyst for the current AI revolution. In this highly competitive context, Stargate LLC stands out, a public-private alliance that plans to invest up to $500 billion in AI infrastructure and data centers, with participation from OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank. Other initiatives driven by the Trump administration include the American AI Exports program, aimed at exporting AI technology to allied countries, and the United States Tech Force, focused on attracting talent. Business support for Trump is notable, although few tech leaders speak out openly about his policies. Elon Musk was an exception, taking a prominent role during the early months of the second term, even leading cuts in the public sector. Although the relationship ended in disagreements, it later stabilized. Donations to Trump's campaign reflect the sector's commitment: figures like Tim Cook and Sam Altman contributed personally. Cook praised the government's strategy to boost AI, while Altman, initially skeptical, joined after the launch of Stargate and direct meetings with the president. Meta, for its part, showed its support with investments in the U.S. and appointed Dina Powell, a former Trump advisor and key figure in the Bush administration, as president. In contrast, Sundar Pichai and Jeff Bezos have preferred to maintain a low profile, participating in meetings but avoiding public positions, a decision understandable given the polarization Trump generates and his recent international actions. Microsoft represents a middle ground: its president, Brad Smith, has intervened in debates that others avoid, pressing the government to accelerate cooperation against the Chinese advance in AI and warning about the impact of foreign policy on the tech business. Trump, for his part, has expressed his displeasure with Microsoft's global affairs president, Lisa Monaco, even suggesting her dismissal. Smith, in fact, was not present in the official photo on January 20, 2025. In the coming months, two opposing forces will shape the relationship between big tech and Trump: on one hand, the pressure from China, with companies like Alibaba, Tencent, Baidu, and new players like DeepSeek and Moonshot AI, which forces big tech to collaborate with the U.S. government; on the other, Trump's polarizing figure, which complicates publicly justifying any rapprochement. Thus, companies like Meta, Google, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and OpenAI will need to balance their economic interests with managing their image in an increasingly divided public opinion.
    Paloma Firgaira

    Paloma Firgaira

    CEO

    Con más de 20 años de experiencia, Paloma es una ejecutiva flexible y ágil que sobresale implementando estrategias adaptadas a cada situación. Su MBA en Administración de Empresas y experiencia como Experta en IA y Automatización fortalecen su liderazgo y pensamiento estratégico. Su eficiencia en la planificación de tareas y rápida adaptación al cambio contribuyen positivamente a su trabajo. Con sólidas habilidades de liderazgo e interpersonales, tiene un historial comprobado en gestión financiera, planificación estratégica y desarrollo de equipos.