Last Updated:September 05, 2025, 07:26 IST
Donald Trump hosted leading tech executives at the White House, and praised the group as “brilliant” and a “high-IQ” force. Elon Musk wasn't a part of the group.

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump host a dinner for tech leaders in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, DC (Photo: AFP)
US President Donald Trump on Thursday hosted a high-powered group of tech executives at the White House, as he showcased research on artificial intelligence and boasted of investments that companies are making around the United States.
The guest list included multiple prominent figures from major artificial intelligence and technology firms, but excluded SpaceX and Tesla chief Elon Musk.
Hosting the dinner, Trump praised those assembled at the table as “brilliant people with a high intelligence quotient" and said he knows all of them indirectly.
“It’s an honour to be here with this group of people. They’re leading a revolution in business and in genius, and in every other work you can imagine. There has never been anything like it," the US President said.
“The most brilliant people are gathered around this table. This is definitely a high-IQ group, and I’m very proud of them," he said.
“I know all of them indirectly, I know some of them very well, but I know everybody at the table indirectly, through reading about you, and studying… knowing a lot about your business. We’re making it very easy for you in terms of electric capacity in getting it for you," Trump added.
While the executives praised Trump and talked about their hopes for technological advancement, the US President was focused on dollar signs.
He went around the table and asked executives how much they were investing in the country.
Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, who sat to Trump’s right, said USD 600 billion. Apple’s Tim Cook said the same. Google’s Sundar Pichai said USD 250 billion.
Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
First Published:
September 05, 2025, 07:23 IST
News world 'A High-IQ Group': Donald Trump Hosts US Tech Titans At White House, Elon Musk Excluded
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