OpenAI CEO Sam Altman struggles to meet Donald Trump—all thanks to Elon Musk

Those business leaders wanting to meet the next U.S. President, Donald Trump, for a high-stakes business discussion will need to get past Elon Musk first. According to The Wall Street Journal, Musk has become a key power player in Trump’s transition team, acting as a gatekeeper for anyone seeking the president-elect’s ear. Among those struggling to gain access is OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, whose rocky history with the Tesla and SpaceX CEO is making it even tougher to secure a meeting.

According to the report, Sam Altman has been leveraging his network to gain access to Trump’s inner circle, reaching out through mutual contacts like Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, and Josh Kushner, a significant OpenAI investor.?

However, these attempts have faced roadblocks, as some intermediaries are reluctant to forward his requests, wary of Musk’s disapproval.

In a bid to sidestep Musk’s influence, Altman even sought a meeting with Howard Lutnick, a trusted advisor to the incoming administration and a Musk ally.?

During their conversation, Altman pitched OpenAI’s ambitious plans for U.S. investment, including building data centers and creating jobs.

Meanwhile, other tech giants Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Apple’s Tim Cook, and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg appear to have had more success securing face time with Trump.

What’s the tension between Musk and Altman all about??

At its core, it’s a clash of philosophies on AI’s future.?

Musk advocates for stringent regulation and centralised oversight, warning that artificial intelligence is too dangerous to leave unchecked.?

“The risk of AGI going rogue is real. We need guardrails, and we need them now,” he had said.

Altman, however, champions the idea that innovation and safety can go hand in hand, arguing that making AI tools widely accessible is the best way to prevent misuse.

“Hitting pause on AI development won’t protect us. It’ll only give bad actors a head start. The solution lies in moving forward, but doing so responsibly,” he argues.

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