Trump discusses AI infrastructure plans at the White House, joined by Larry Ellison, Masayoshi Son, and Sam Altman in the Roosevelt Room. Reuters
Donald Trump has introduced what he describes as “the largest AI infrastructure project in history,” a $500 billion joint venture called Stargate. This new initiative, which involves OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank, aims to build a vast network of data centers across the United States. The goal is to support the development of artificial intelligence and, according to Trump, create over 100,000 American jobs “almost immediately.”
The announcement took place at the White House, with key figures from the involved companies standing alongside Trump, including Oracle’s Larry Ellison, SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son, and OpenAI’s Sam Altman. Trump emphasized that the new venture would play a significant role in securing the United States' technological leadership, especially in the face of increasing competition from China.
Trump noted, “China is a competitor and others are competitors. We want it to be in this country.” The project is seen as a way for the U.S. to maintain its competitive edge in artificial intelligence development, an area where China has made significant strides in recent years. As part of the initiative, Trump is pushing for the rapid development of the necessary infrastructure, including energy production capabilities to power these data centers.
“We have to get this stuff built,” Trump said during the announcement. “They have to produce a lot of electricity, and we’ll make it possible for them to get that production done very easily at their own plants.” The project will focus on energy infrastructure to ensure the data centers can operate at full capacity.
The timing of this announcement is notable, as it follows Trump’s return to office and his decision to overturn a key executive order on AI safety standards that had been implemented under his predecessor, Joe Biden. The reversal reflects a significant shift in U.S. artificial intelligence policy, with Trump pushing for a more business-friendly approach.
The launch of Stargate is also part of a broader trend of investment in data centers across the United States. Financial firm Blackstone had previously predicted that there would be $1 trillion in data center investments in the U.S. over the next five years, which aligns with the scale of the Stargate project.
Trump framed the announcement as a strong endorsement of America’s potential under his leadership, saying, “This monumental undertaking is a resounding declaration of confidence in America’s potential under a new president.” This sentiment was echoed by the representatives from the involved companies, who expressed their enthusiasm for the new partnership.
In addition to the Stargate venture, Trump had earlier announced another large-scale AI data center investment from UAE-based DAMAC Properties, worth $20 billion. The projects for Stargate will initially focus on Texas, with other sites being considered across the country.
