Several prominent Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns about substantial donations made by leading tech companies to President-elect Donald Trump's inaugural fund. A letter spearheaded by Senator Elizabeth Warren and Senator Michael Bennet alleges these contributions are an attempt to influence the incoming administration and potentially evade regulatory oversight.
The letter, addressed to Amazon, Apple, Google, OpenAI, Meta, Microsoft, and Uber, highlights the increasing scrutiny these companies face regarding antitrust violations, privacy concerns, and potential harm to workers, consumers, and competition. The senators argue that the donations create an appearance of impropriety and raise questions about the influence of corporate money in politics.
The lawmakers demand answers by January 31st regarding the rationale behind the donations and any communication that occurred between the companies and the Trump transition team. They specifically question whether these contributions aim to soften the administration's stance on potential regulations affecting the tech sector.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman responded publicly, expressing confusion over the letter, particularly since his personal $1 million contribution was not made on behalf of the company. An OpenAI spokesperson clarified Altman's support for President Trump, emphasizing the significance of the upcoming term for AI and American innovation.
Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Uber each contributed $1 million to the inaugural fund, while Apple CEO Tim Cook made a personal donation of the same amount. Many of these tech leaders are anticipated to attend the inauguration.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the companies mentioned for comment.
