OpenAI’s President Gave Millions to Trump. He Says It’s for Humanity
Summary
Greg Brockman, OpenAI’s president and cofounder, was among President Trump’s largest individual donors in 2025. In a WIRED interview he argues his political donations support OpenAI’s mission and are motivated by concerns for humanity — a stance that has unsettled some employees inside the company. The piece highlights the tension between Brockman’s claim to be apolitical and the real political impact of his giving, and raises questions about leadership, optics and AI governance. Note: the full interview is behind a subscriber paywall.
Key Points
- Greg Brockman emerged as one of the biggest individual donors to President Trump in 2025.
- He frames his contributions as aligned with protecting humanity and supporting OpenAI’s mission.
- Brockman maintains he is “not political,” despite the scale of his donations.
- Some OpenAI employees disagree with his choices and are concerned about internal morale and public perception.
- The story raises broader issues about tech leaders’ influence on politics and the governance of powerful AI organisations.
Context and relevance
This is important because it directly links the leadership of a leading AI lab to major partisan political spending. That link can affect regulatory attention, employee trust, public confidence in the company’s motives, and how AI policy is shaped. It sits within wider trends of senior tech figures playing active political roles while their companies navigate governance and safety questions.
Author style
Punchy — Maxwell Zeff cuts to the contradiction at the heart of the story: Brockman’s insistence on being apolitical versus the practical consequences of his donations. If you follow AI governance, corporate culture in tech, or political influence by industry leaders, the detail is worth reading.
Why should I read this
Because it’s awkward, important and a bit bonkers. The president of OpenAI giving millions to Trump isn’t just gossip — it could shape how the company is seen, regulated and run. We’ve skimmed the fuss and pulled out the bits that matter so you don’t have to wade through the paywall unless you want the full interview.