A White House dinner on September 4, 2025, took an unexpected turn when Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was caught on a hot mic admitting uncertainty about a massive $600 billion investment pledge in the US through 2028. The awkward moment, which followed a question from President Donald Trump, has gone viral, sparking both amusement and scrutiny online.

During the high-profile event, attended by tech giants like Google’s Sundar Pichai, Apple’s Tim Cook, Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, and Oracle’s Safra Catz, Zuckerberg announced Meta’s ambitious plan. “I think it’s probably going to be something like... at least 600 billion dollars through 2028,” he said, prompting Trump to laugh and respond, “That’s a lot. Thank you, Mark, great to have you.”

However, moments later, with his microphone still on, Zuckerberg leaned toward Trump and said, “Sorry, I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t sure what number you wanted to go with.” The candid remark suggested he was caught off guard by Trump’s question, raising questions about the announcement’s preparation.

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Zuckerberg later clarified on Threads, stating, “If AI progress keeps accelerating, it’s quite possible we’ll invest even more than [$600 billion]. I had briefed the President that we’re planning to invest $600B+ in the US through ’28 and a significantly higher number through the decade’s end.” He explained he was unsure which figure Trump was referring to and opted for the lower estimate.

The dinner showcased other major commitments, with Apple’s Tim Cook reaffirming a $600 billion pledge, Google’s Sundar Pichai announcing $250 billion over two years, and Microsoft’s Satya Nadella estimating $75-80 billion for 2025. OpenAI’s Sam Altman and AMD’s Lisa Su also pledged substantial investments, with Su thanking Trump for supporting AI development.

The hot mic moment, while light-hearted, highlighted the high-stakes nature of such announcements and the close ties between tech leaders and political figures. As Meta and other tech giants push forward with massive US investments, particularly in AI, the exchange has fueled discussions about transparency and coordination in these billion-dollar commitments.

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