Sam Altman gives savage reply to Democrats for questioning his donation to Trump inaugural fund; ‘Funny, they never…’

Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, has given a stern reaction to Democrats who chastised him for contributing $1 million to the inaugural fund of Donald Trump.

Published on: Jan 22, 2025, 17:48:19 IST

By Shweta Kukreti

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Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, has given a stern reaction to Democrats who chastised him for contributing $1 million to the inaugural fund of US President Donald Trump.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman clarified that he donated the amount from his personal cash and called the senators' accusations baseless (Getty Images via AFP)

Last week, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Michael Bennet blasted Altman for attempting to “cozy up” to Trump in order to evade federal oversight. The senators asked him a number of questions that were supposedly intended to find out why he donated the money.

Atlman shared Democrats' letter

Hitting back at Democrats, Atlman posted their letter, saying: “Funny, they never sent me one of these for contributing to Democrats.”

He went on to clarify that he donated the amount from his personal cash and called the senators' accusations baseless. “It was a personal contribution as you state; I am confused about the questions given that my company did not make a decision.”

According to the letter, Altman's and other large tech companies have donated millions of dollars to Trump's inaugural fund in what seems to be an attempt to influence and shape the US policies and actions of the new administration.

“Big Tech companies have come under increased scrutiny from federal regulators,” the Senators continued.

Expressing their concerns in the letter, they said that Altman's company and other Big Tech donors “are using your massive contributions to the inaugural fund to cozy up to the incoming Trump administration.”

Also Read: ‘I'm not him’; Elon Musk's ex Grimes reacts to Tesla CEO's salute at Trump inauguration, says ‘happy to denounce Nazism’

Altman's firm facing FTC probe

The letter highlighted that OpenAI is one of several companies that are facing regulatory actions and investigations.

The SEC is presently probing Altman's firm for possibly deceiving investors . It is also facing FTC investigation over potential consumer harm.

The senators implied that OpenAI and other tech firms like Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft, is attempting to “curry favor” before the examinations are concluded.

Altman was seen interacting with his Jake Paul and boxer Logan Paul during Trump ceremony.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shweta Kukreti
Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More

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