President Trump awards big tech donors with nation’s highest science prizes
Quick Look
- President Trump awarded the National Medal of Science to Elon Musk, Jensen Huang, Sergey Brin, and Lisa Su, and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Michael Dell and Satya Nadella at the Golden Age of American Innovation Summit.
- The awardees have collectively donated nearly $6 billion to Trump-linked efforts, including inauguration funds and the Trump Accounts program.
- Nadella received his medal shortly after Microsoft was suspended from the H-1B visa program.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The National Medal of Science and National Medal of Technology and Innovation are the highest honors bestowed by the U.S. government for achievements in science and technology. The awards were presented at the Golden Age of American Innovation Summit.
On Thursday, at the Golden Age of American Innovation Summit, President Trump awarded Elon Musk, Jensen Huang, Sergey Brin, and AMD’s Lisa Su the National Medal of Science, the nation’s top science prize. Dell Technologies’ Michael Dell and Microsoft’s Satya Nadella also received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation.
Together, the awardees have donated nearly $6 billion to efforts tied to Trump and his administration, according to The New Republic. Alphabet and Microsoft, for example, donated to the president’s inauguration fund and White House ballroom. AMD gave to a pro-Trump Super PAC and Michael and Susan Dell pledged $6.25 billion to help fund the Trump Accounts, the administration’s savings program for children.
Trump said the honorees individuals had helped “pioneer an incredible future for America,” and that because of them, “we will always be on top. No one else can compete with us.”
Nadella received his medal right after the administration indefinitely suspended Microsoft from the H-1B program, which lets U.S. companies hire skilled foreign workers.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Microsoft will seek reinstatement or exemptions from the H-1B program suspension
Likely · Within weeks
Public scrutiny will increase regarding the relationship between tech donations and government awards
Very likely · Within days
Open Questions
- What specific criteria were used to select the awardees for the National Medals?
- How will the suspension of Microsoft from the H-1B program affect its hiring practices?
- What are the details of the Trump Accounts program and how will the Dell pledge be used?
