Elon Musk, Sam Altman spar over Trump-backed ‘Stargate’ venture

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Craig Nigrelli Anchor

By Craig Nigrelli (Anchor), Shea Taylor (Producer), Jack Henry (Video Editor)

Elon Musk, one of President Donald Trump’s closest allies, isn’t so sure about the president’s plan to grow artificial intelligence infrastructure in the U.S. Now, Musk’s concerns have clashed with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

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On Tuesday, Jan. 21, Trump announced a joint venture with Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison, SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son and Altman called “Stargate.”

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The tech giants are investing up to $500 billion into building both virtual and physical infrastructure, like building data centers and generating enough electricity to power them.

Here’s what happened

Hours after Trump made the announcement, Musk — who leads Trump’s newly-created Department of Government Efficiency — questioned the investment.

In a post to his social media platform X, Musk said, “They don’t actually have the money. SoftBank has well under 10 billion dollars secure — I have that on good authority.”

SoftBank has well under $10B secured. I have that on good authority.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 22, 2025

Altman responded to Musk’s accusation, saying Musk was wrong.

“[T]his is great for the country. [I] realize what is great for the country isn’t always what’s optimal for your companies, but in your new role [I] hope you’ll mostly put [American flag emoji] first,” Altman added.

wrong, as you surely know.

want to come visit the first site already under way?

this is great for the country. i realize what is great for the country isn't always what's optimal for your companies, but in your new role i hope you'll mostly put 🇺🇸 first.
— Sam Altman (@sama) January 22, 2025

The back and forth over Stargate has come amid a years-long dispute between Musk and Altman. Their feud began with a boardroom rivalry over who should run OpenAI after they both helped found it.

Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Data Center, Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Infrastructure, Investing, Money, OpenAI, Oracle, power grid, Sam Altman, SoftBank, X

[CRAIG NIGRELLI]

ELON MUSK – ONE OF PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S CLOSEST ALLIES – ISN’T SO SURE ABOUT THE PRESIDENT’S PLAN TO GROW ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE UNITED STATES.

TUESDAY, PRESIDENT TRUMP ANNOUNCED A JOINT VENTURE WITH ORACLE CHAIRMAN LARRY ELLISON, OPEN-A-I C-E-O SAM ALTMAN, AND SOFTBANK C-E-O MASAYOSHI SON CALL “STARGATE.”

THE TECH GIANTS ARE INVESTING UP TO 500 BILLION DOLLARS INTO BUILDING BOTH VIRTUAL AND PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE – LIKE BUILDING DATA CENTERS AND GENERATING ENOUGH ELECTRICITY TO POWER THEM.

HOURS AFTER TRUMP MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT, MUSK – WHO LEADS TRUMP’S NEWLY-CREATED DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY – QUESTIONED THE INVESTMENT.

IN A POST ON HIS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM X – MUSK SAID QUOTE “THEY DON’T ACTUALLY HAVE THE MONEY.

SOFTBANK HAS WELL UNDER 10 BILLION DOLLARS SECURE –I HAVE THAT ON GOOD AUTHORITY.”

ALTMAN RESPONDED TO MUSK’S ACCUSATION – SAYING MUSK IS WRONG AND ADDING QUOTE “THIS IS GREAT FOR THE COUNTRY.

I REALIZE WHAT IS GREAT FOR THE COUNTRY ISN’T ALWAYS WHAT’S OPTIMAL FOR YOUR COMPANIES… BUT IN YOUR NEW ROLE I HOPE YOU’LL MOSTLY PUT AMERICA FIRST.”

THE BACK AND FORTH OVER STARGATE IS PART OF A YEARS-LONG DISPUTE BETWEEN MUSK AND ALTMAN – WHICH BEGAN WITH A BOARDROOM RIVALRY OVER WHO SHOULD RUN OPEN-A-I – AFTER THEY OTH HELPED FOUND IT.

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