Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, recently retroactively made himself controversial. His criticism of former President Donald Trump and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has generated a lot of buzz. In a leaked all-hands message to employees, Altman shared his anxiety over Trump’s authoritarian plans. He further condemned the racist, anti-immigrant ICE raids as excessive. His comments have sparked a national conversation about how to praise good leadership without glorifying bad behavior.
In his fundraising email, Altman Trump as “irresponsible in the way dictators are.” He made comparisons to what happened in Germany in the 1930s. He stated, “To anyone familiar with the history of Germany in the 1930s, it’s chilling to watch Trump in action.” He understood the critique but had a hope for Trump to bring people together. He called on the former president to “meet this moment.”
Altman’s statements are not surprising given OpenAI’s tremendous trajectory. Yet the company has managed to raise at least $40 billion and is currently negotiating for another $100 billion while carrying a mind-boggling $830 billion valuation. As a leader in today’s most influential and prosperous industry, he wields enormous power. His views are influential and can greatly shape the national conversation.
While Altman has yet to publicly criticize the administration’s immigration policy or its deployment of Border Patrol agents into American cities, he did express concern over ICE’s actions in his leaked message. “What’s happening with ICE is going too far,” he stated, highlighting the need for accountability. He praised Trump’s suggestion for an independent investigation into recent shootings involving federal agents in Minnesota, indicating a nuanced view of the former president’s actions.
Not everyone agrees with Altman’s approach. In a harshly-worded attack, Haymaker Group founder and PR exec J.J. Colao blasted him for attempting to have it both ways. He noted the hypocrisy in calling Trump a decisive leader while decrying many of his decisions. Colao remarked that Altman’s statement seemed to absolve Trump of responsibility for ICE’s conduct, saying it appears “as if the president bears no responsibility for ICE’s actions.”
In his statement, Altman specifically called on GOP leaders to counter disinformation and urged all Americans — especially Republicans — to engage in political debate. He stated, “This would be a good time for us all—even Republicans, especially Republican politicians who previously endorsed Trump—to start speaking up.” He cast this call to action not as an act of nationalistic pride but rather “loving the country.”
Whatever Altman’s personal thoughts about Trump, Altman’s worries are a sign of rising alarm among far left, right, and center at what ICE is up to. Just as many Republicans are calling for full investigations into these shootings, including those of the federally-employed agents. This is a big change in the narrative around the Trump administration.
Altman ended his controversial post with a quote from Edmund Burke: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” This short proclamation captures his demand for greater action and accountability from leaders.
