Trump Awards Top Science Honors to Big Tech Donors
AI-generated image · US National Wire
President Trump granted the National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation to executives who have contributed billions to his administration and affiliated causes.
During the Golden Age of American Innovation Summit on Thursday, President Trump presented the National Medal of Science to Elon Musk, Jensen Huang, Sergey Brin, and AMD's Lisa Su, as TechCrunch first reported. Additionally, Microsoft's Satya Nadella and Michael Dell of Dell Technologies were awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation.
According to reporting from TechCrunch, these awardees have collectively donated nearly $6 billion to initiatives linked to Trump and his administration, a figure cited by The New Republic. Specific contributions include donations from Microsoft and Alphabet to the White House ballroom and the president's inauguration fund. AMD contributed to a pro-Trump Super PAC, while Susan and Michael Dell committed $6.25 billion toward the Trump Accounts, which is the administration's savings program for children.
President Trump stated that the recipients helped "pioneer an incredible future for America" and ensured the U.S. remains a global leader that others cannot compete with.
Notably, TechCrunch reports that Satya Nadella's award comes immediately after the administration's decision to indefinitely suspend Microsoft from the H-1B program, a system used by companies to employ skilled foreign workers.