During a live appearance at the All-In Summit in Los Angeles on Monday morning, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang received an unexpected phone call directly from President Donald Trump, which he took to the stage in real-time.
Speaking to Trump via speakerphone, Huang referred to the summit hosts as “the besties,” highlighting the close-knit circle of venture capitalists and tech policy figures co-hosting the popular podcast, including Chamath Palihapitiya, Jason Calacanis, David Friedberg, and David Sacks.
In a striking display of political and corporate alignment, Huang put the president on speaker for the entire audience, showcasing a level of familiarity that caught the attention of public relations observers.
On the call, Trump humorously commented on the technical setup, noting that while Huang could design the world’s most complex computer chips, he struggled to operate a speakerphone. In reality, Huang had requested an extra microphone from stagehands to ensure the president’s voice carried clearly to the crowd.
The conversation occurred as Huang and the hosts discussed calls from figures like Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei to decelerate the advancement of artificial intelligence capabilities. While tech leaders like Elon Musk and Sam Altman have echoed these cautionary views, Huang has maintained a more aggressive development stance.
Trump dismissed the calls for a slowdown as a strategic trap, asserting that forces opposed to American progress—whether domestic political opponents or international rivals like China—were attempting to exploit the situation. “And we’re not going to let that happen. It’s a hoax,” Trump declared.
Huang firmly concurred, responding, “You’re right. We’re not going to let that happen, sir,” prompting enthusiastic applause from the summit attendees.
The president and his allies have characterized local opposition to massive data center projects as part of a coordinated international effort to hinder American economic dominance. However, domestic opposition stems from tangible local concerns. A recent Gallup poll revealed that roughly 70% of Americans oppose new data centers in their communities, with over 50% citing environmental impacts, and approximately 20% expressing worries about rising cost of living and local quality of life.
Concluding the discussion, Trump urged a balanced approach, advising prudence without halting the sector’s momentum. “So I’m with you all the way,” Trump told Huang, admitting he had not previously known Huang’s stance but wholeheartedly supporting continued, leading-edge development.
