OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is planning to make a $1 million personal donation to President-Elect Donald Trump’s inauguration fund, joining a number of tech companies and executives who are working to improve their relationships the incoming administration.
“Protection money” implies a significant expense. A million dollars is so little to a big tech company (and not that much to Trump) that this is more like a “Congratulations!” card with a Starbucks gift certificate inside. It’s as little as Altman can send without being insulting, but if the fact that he sent anything at all sways Trump even a little bit then the return on investment will be enormous.
It’s to keep their name off a list. The Revenge President is back with more power, so better at least pretend to be with him if you’re also powerful.
It doesn’t imply a significant expense. My grandfather used to tell us a story of how he paid what was basically a mafia a monthly fee so his barber shop wouldn’t get broken into. I forgot the exact amount, but is was like $500/m or something.
Trump also deals in these “small” transactions. Get a hundred of them and it adds up.
I suppose this is just nitpicking, but I think $500 a month is a lot more to a barber than a million is to Altman.
I do agree with you. I guess maybe this is more like chips on a table? Like an ante, a bet?
Either way I think we can both agree it’s shady