As Trump Opposes Slowing AI Development, His Family Continues to Increase Investment in the AI Sector
Beating AI News Flash: Trump and his family businesses are continuously expanding investments in artificial intelligence, data centers, power infrastructure, and related technology companies. At the same time, Trump opposes slowing down AI development, making his government's decisions on AI regulation potentially affect the value of his personal and family investments, creating a potential conflict of interest. Financial disclosures show that after Trump returned to the White House, his investment accounts have disclosed nearly 30,000 securities transactions, including buying and selling stocks in chip, server, and energy infrastructure companies such as Dell Technologies, Micron Technology, GE Vernova, Broadcom, Texas Instruments, Credo Technology, and Super Micro Computer. It is currently impossible to determine whether Trump still holds these shares, because the relevant transactions do not require real-time disclosure. Trump has also not placed his assets in a blind trust, unlike several recent U.S. presidents.
The Trump family businesses are also directly expanding AI-related operations. Trump Media & Technology Group, the parent company of Truth Social, plans to merge with nuclear fusion company TAE Technologies, which intends to build power generation facilities amid growing electricity demand from AI data centers. Truth Social also plans to license platform data to AI labs through TruthAPI and has launched a search tool powered by Perplexity.
Donald Trump Jr. serves as a partner at 1789 Capital, which has completed fundraising for a $1.2 billion fund, with investment directions including digital infrastructure such as data centers. After Trump returned to the White House, 1789 Capital has invested in AI chip company Cerebras, Perplexity, and Musk's xAI. Eric Trump, meanwhile, invests through American Ventures in defense, robotics, and AI data processing companies.
The White House denies any conflict of interest, saying Trump's investments are fully managed by independent managers, with the relevant assets held in discretionary accounts and automatically replicating indices such as the Schwab 1000 through computer models; Trump and his family cannot decide specific investments or transaction timing. 1789 Capital also said that Donald Trump Jr. conducts investments in a private capacity and does not hold a government position.
