US President Donald Trump has criticised major American technology companies for outsourcing jobs to countries like India and China, and has urged them to focus on creating employment within the United States.
Speaking at the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summit held in July, he said that American tech giants have benefited from the country’s freedom while moving their operations overseas.
“Many of our largest tech companies have reaped the blessings of American freedom while building their factories in China, hiring workers in India and slashing profits in Ireland, you know that,” Trump said. “All the while dismissing and even censoring their fellow citizens right here at home. Under President Trump, those days are over.”
The US President asked the technology sector to take a more nationalistic approach and called on companies to prioritise American interests. “We need US technology companies to be all in for America. We want you to put America first. You have to do that. That’s all we ask,” he said, as quoted by PTI.
This statement comes as Trump signed three new executive orders aimed at strengthening the country’s position in the global AI race. The first order, titled “Winning the Race”, is designed to speed up the development of AI infrastructure across the US. It includes measures to ease regulations related to data centres and digital facilities in order to support faster innovation and expansion.
The second executive order mandates that AI tools and systems developed using federal funds must be free from political or ideological bias. Trump said, “We are getting rid of woke. AI must be accurate and not influenced by ideology.” He added that earlier policies which focussed on diversity and inclusion had slowed down the country’s technological progress.
The third order deals with the international trade of US-built AI products. It sets new limits on how such technologies are exported and encourages the reduction of America’s reliance on foreign platforms and supply chains.
“America is the country that started the AI race, and as president of the United States, I’m here today to declare that America is going to win it,” Trump said. “Winning this competition will be a test of our capacities unlike anything since the dawn of the space age.”
Though there has been no official change in policy yet, Trump’s comments have raised fresh concerns among Indian professionals working in fields like software development, data science, and artificial intelligence. Many Indian tech workers are employed by US-based companies and play a key role in the country’s digital and innovation economy.
Trump’s remarks also come at a time when the global AI sector is undergoing rapid transformation, with countries across the world investing heavily in research and infrastructure. The United States, which has traditionally led in this domain, is now looking to tighten its control over technology and secure its position against rising competition, especially from China.
While the long-term impact of the new executive orders remains to be seen, the statements from the AI Summit indicate a shift in the US administration’s expectations from its technology industry.
