Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang was onstage at the All-In Summit in Los Angeles on Monday morning when his phone rang. It was President Donald Trump. Instead of stepping away, Huang put Trump on speakerphone for conference attendees to hear.
The move sparked night terrors for public relations professionals everywhere.
The Call From the President
Huang was speaking with a panel of venture capitalists who host the podcast All-In, including Chamath Palihapitiya, Jason Calacanis, and White House advisers David Friedberg and David Sacks. He told Trump he was onstage with “the besties,” referencing those hosts.
“I’m onstage with the besties,” Huang told Trump.
Huang asked stagehands for an extra microphone so he could project the call to the audience. Trump responded with a quip about the difference between building computer chips and managing phones.
“The great thing about life is Jensen can develop the most complex computer chip in the world… but he can’t figure out how to put you on speaker,” Trump said.
What Trump Said
The call came during a discussion about Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei’s call to “slow the pace at which we improve the capabilities of AI.” SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman have publicly said they agree with Amodei. Huang’s views have diverged.
Trump framed the push for slower AI development as a coordinated effort by people who do not want AI to advance.
“They’re just playing right in the hands of a lot of people that don’t want to see it happen,” Trump said. “That could be political people. It could also be China. And we’re not going to let that happen. It’s a hoax.”
“You’re right. We’re not going to let that happen, sir,” Huang replied as the crowd broke into applause.
The Data Center Fight
Trump and his allies, including Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan, have said they believe the growing sentiment against data center construction is part of an international psyop aimed at stifling American economic growth. That framing puts the opposition in stark terms.
But the source of the public’s concern is more straightforward. Recent Gallup polling shows that seven in 10 Americans oppose the construction of data centers in their area. More than 50% of respondents cited the effect of data centers on environmental resources. About 20% said they were concerned about cost-of-living increases and effects on their quality of life.
Trump’s Warning
Trump told Huang that caution was necessary, but stopping the industry entirely was not an option.
“We have to be a little bit careful… We have to do things and we have to do them prudently, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to stop an industry,” Trump said. “So I’m with you all the way. I didn’t even know how you felt about it. I just hoped you felt the same way as me. We’re going to lead.”
The exchange was brief, but it was direct. Trump made his position clear, and Huang confirmed he agreed.
Why This Matters
The call was a moment of genuine political theater. By putting Trump on speakerphone, Huang showed a level of comfort with the president that few corporate leaders demonstrate publicly. The decision to let the call play out in front of an audience of venture capitalists was a calculated move to signal alignment.
Huang’s response was immediate and unequivocal. He agreed with everything Trump said, and the crowd’s applause confirmed the room was with him.
The broader context is that the AI industry faces increasing scrutiny. Amodei has raised concerns about the pace of AI improvement, and the public response to data centers has been negative. Trump’s position is that the push for slower AI development is a hoax driven by foreign interests and domestic opponents.
Key Facts Box
- Call location: Onstage at the All-In Summit in Los Angeles
- Attendees: Venture capitalists Chamath Palihapitiya, Jason Calacanis, and White House advisers David Friedberg and David Sacks
- Polling: Gallup shows 70% of Americans oppose data center construction in their area
- Reasons given: 50% cite environmental resources, 20% cite cost-of-living increases
- Supporters: Elon Musk and Sam Altman agree with Amodei; Trump disagrees
The crowd’s applause confirmed the room was with Huang. Whether the broader public shares that view is another question. Gallup polling shows a substantial share of Americans opposes data center construction, and the concerns are practical: environmental impact and cost of living.
The exchange was a reminder that the AI debate is increasingly personal. CEOs are being asked to take sides, and Huang chose his. He put Trump on speakerphone and agreed with everything he said.
That is a strong statement from a company that is central to the AI industry. Huang made it in public, on stage, with the president’s words broadcast to everyone present.
The night terrors for PR professionals will likely continue. But for now, the message is clear: Nvidia is not slowing down.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.