Zuckerberg Hot Mic: ‘Unsure Which AI Spending Figure’ to Tell Trump

Zuckerberg Caught on Hot Mic Telling Trump ‘I Wasn’t Sure’ How Much to Promise to Spend on AI in the US

What a difference a year makes! Mark Zuckerberg, once threatened with imprisonment by then-President Donald Trump, recently found himself seated right next to Trump at a high-profile White House dinner. This gathering brought together nearly three dozen tech CEOs and executives, all eager to praise and thank the former president.

Zuckerberg’s exchange with Trump was particularly noteworthy. At one point, Trump directly asked Zuckerberg about Meta’s planned AI spending over the next few years. Zuckerberg responded, “probably going to be something like, I don’t know, at least $600 billion through [20]28 in the US.” Trump, seemingly pleased, offered his approval: “That’s a lot, thank you Mark, it’s great to have you.”

However, it was a moment caught on a hot mic later that truly told the story. Zuckerberg was heard apologizing to Trump, saying, “sorry, I wasn’t ready… I wasn’t sure what number you wanted to go with.”

You can watch the telling clip here:
[Embed Twitter video: Zuckerberg saying Meta intends to spend at least 600 billion in the US Zuckerberg at the end caught on a hot mic https://t.co/PZhG4slWa9]

This interaction highlights just how much Zuckerberg’s efforts to mend fences with Trump have paid off. In the span of a year, the relationship has shifted dramatically. From facing threats of jail time, Zuckerberg has embarked on a campaign that includes a $1 million donation to Trump’s inauguration, adjustments to Meta’s policies, a public renouncement of DEI, the addition of a pro-Trump figure to Meta’s board, a $25 million settlement in a lawsuit, and several private meetings.

Now, not only is Zuckerberg pledging immense sums for AI infrastructure in the US, but it also appears he’s seeking Trump’s specific approval on the exact figures.

Zuckerberg later addressed the hot mic moment in a post on Threads. He clarified that Meta might invest even more and that he had previously briefed the president on potential spending through 2028 and “the end of the decade.” He explained, “I wasn’t sure which number he was asking about, so I just shared the lower number through ’28 and clarified with him afterwards.”