Deep Read: „Die folgenreichste Wirkung seiner Präsidentschaft“: Trumps diabolischer Pakt mit dem Silicon Valley
Die Tech-Fürsten stehen dem US-Präsidenten so nah wie nie – dabei diktiert Trump die Bedingungen. Zwei Wochen vor den Kongresswahlen wächst vor allem auf einer Seite das Risiko.
Washington, October 8: President Donald Trump honored the elite of the tech industry at a summit, declaring it a "Golden Age of American Innovation". Tech leaders Elon Musk, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Google co-founder Sergey Brin, and AMD CEO Lisa Su received the National Medal of Science. Computer pioneer Michael Dell and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella were awarded the National Medal of Technology. There are no greater honors for the world of American science and technology.
The mood was jubilant, with the President referring to Musk as "our modern Thomas Edison". America, he said, would "stay at the forefront" because of these people. The harmony was short-lived, however. Just hours earlier, Trump's Labor Department had stripped Microsoft of its green-card program status. Vice President J. D. Vance criticized the company for visa abuse. The suspension halted green-card proceedings for foreign employees. For Microsoft's personnel policies, it was a bitter blow.
Tension and praise, benefits and rebukes – the relationship between the President and Silicon Valley is increasingly intertwined. Less than two weeks before the November 3 congressional elections, tech CEOs are in Trump's advisor's office, signing his agreements, funding his campaign, and gleefully being photographed with him wherever possible.
This despite the libertarian ideology prevalent in the tech industry and the autocratic appearance of the government, which initially seemed contradictory. Trump has pursued a dirigist economic policy, injecting state involvement in companies like Intel, while libertarians yearn for the government to stay out of business. Trump has waged trade wars so protectionist it could not be more so – libertarians crave open markets.
Trump has barred academic immigrants – the libertarians and their companies rely on the world's talent. Despite these contradictions, the libertarian-authoritarian alliance has defined the first two years of Trump's presidency. How long can this pact last?
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
