Internal Slack message: Sam Altman tells OpenAI staff that “What's happening with ICE is going too far” and he hopes President Trump “will rise to this moment”

Business leaders continue to feel pressure to speak out about the immigration crackdown and the fatal shooting of two U.S. citizens.

New York Times 2026-01-27

Discussion

@laurenshirsch Lauren Hirsch on x
Sam Altman's note to employees, per @dealbook https://www.nytimes.com/... v [image]
@hypervisible.blacksky.app @hypervisible.blacksky.app on bluesky
Nobody should look to these folks for moral clarity, but in this case, as you would imagine, “weigh in” equals weaksauce, anodyne statement designed mostly to not offend.
@cassim.montilla.fr Cassim Montilla on bluesky
He hopes that Donald Trump will « rise to this moment » ? Excuse me ? [embedded post]
@daniloc.xyz @daniloc.xyz on bluesky
business leaders turning the dial toward “off-ramp” and looking anxiously back at Trump hoping he'll take it so they don't have to deal with workforce and consumer revolt — bsky.app/profile/tech... [embedded post]
@tnewmsblues Tim Newman on bluesky
OpenAI's Sam Altman: — “President Trump is a very strong leader, and I hope he will rise to this moment and unite the country.” — www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/b...
@mikeisaac Rat King on x
Dario Amodei was (among) the first of the CEO class to voice some public pushback against ICE yesterday, while later going on TV to say he appreciated trump changing course today you see OAI leaked memo with altman echoing same CEOs are herd animals. maybe more of this today [ima…
@ethanchoi7 Ethan Choi on x
@adam__xyz I want to make it clear that Keith doesn't represent everyone's views here at @khoslaventures, at least not mine. What happened in Minnesota is plain wrong. Don't know how you could really see it differently. Sad to see a person's life taken unnecessarily.
@vkhosla Vinod Khosla on x
I agree with @EthanChoi7 . Macho ICE vigilantes running amuck empowered by a conscious-less administration. The video was sickening to watch and the storytelling without facts or with invented fictitious facts by authorities almost unimaginable in a civilized society. ICE
@rabois Keith Rabois on x
@RichardHanania no law enforcement has shot an innocent person. illegals are committing violent crimes everyday.
@katiemiller Katie Miller on x
Co-Founder of Anthropic: “My deep loyalty is to the principles of classical liberal democracy.” If this is what they say publicly, this is how their AI model is programmed. Woke and deeply leftist ideology is what they want you to rely upon.
@vkhosla Vinod Khosla on x
.@elonmusk doesn't want MAGA, he wants WAGA or “white America great again” as a racism is great and desirable" paradigm. All non-whites in @tesla, @SpaceX @X etc and all decent whites should quit and join our portfolio. Email us your linkedin!
@rabois Keith Rabois on x
@holman @devahaz he unequivocally attempted to draw his weapon. fuck you.
@ericnewcomer Eric Newcomer on x
The tech right spent years calling for “free speech” and demanding that we replace institutional media with “citizen journalists.” Now, with Pretti, we have a man exercising his First Amendment rights to witness and record government action on public streets and he's shot dead.
@adam__xyz Adam Del on x
@EthanChoi7 @khoslaventures Ty Ethan. It's just too many years of his ignorant, incendiary bs... it's bad for your fund, and it's bad for the startup ecosystem in general
@ericnewcomer Eric Newcomer on x
am i missing any key statements on the shooting from leaders in tech. i've got Jeff Dean, Reid Hoffman, Paul Graham, Katie Stanton, Dave McClure, Meredith Whittaker, Yann LeCun, Vineeta Agarwala, Vinod Khosla, Ethan Choi, Seth Bannon, John O'Farrell, Antonio Bustamante, Chris Ol…
@vkhosla Vinod Khosla on x
But please understand he desperately needs the money to get more ICE agents
@ben_golub Ben Golub on x
Wondering how folks at OpenAI feel about this today
@william_fitz William Fitzgerald on x
hey Palantir workers, a bunch of your former colleagues raised same concerns years ago. Karp was happy to tire them out with long whataboutism meetings. if you actually want them to stop enabling ICE, become a whistleblower. there's a whole world out here who'll support you.
@bernhardsson Erik Bernhardsson on x
We were discussing how much disk space we needed and of the engineers said his estimate was “conservative”. I don't want any of that partisan crap so I fired him on the spot.
@johnofa John O'Farrell on x
Thank you @vkhosla
@rabois Keith Rabois on x
@nyseans @RichardHanania yes but interfering w a law enforcement operation is not protected by any of those amendments.
@rabois Keith Rabois on x
@nyseans @RichardHanania Because the MN police's refusal to cooperate is exactly what is leading to these treacherous conditions (for everyone).
@dilawar Dilawar Syed on x
Thank you, @vkhosla, for speaking out and clarifying. This is a moment for moral clarity—beyond politics or party.
@reidhoffman Reid Hoffman on x
There is politics but humanity should transcend that
@rabois Keith Rabois on x
@nyseans @RichardHanania i don't think you should ask any law enforcement in MN. But i am very open to reading views from any other urban jurisdiction.
@rabois Keith Rabois on x
@nyseans @RichardHanania yes watch the video of him obstructing traffic in the middle of the road which is a felony. i agree this one will be investigated.
@johnwilson @johnwilson on x
Good to hear. But the problem is Keith is your brand. His statements convey that he has no morals, no values, and little interest in anything except money and power.
@rabois Keith Rabois on x
@devahaz watch the video. he tried to draw the weapon.
@ramez Ramez Naam on x
You're smarter than that. I can only conclude that you're evil as well.
@adam__xyz Adam Del on x
@rabois I've been texting with several Khosla founders who are ashamed to associate with you, despite pos experiences with the fund overall. All of this ignorant BS that you spout hurts your fund, your brand, and alienates really talented builders.
@rabois Keith Rabois on x
@adam__xyz fortunately you are not.
@sporadica @sporadica on x
Keith Rabois, everyone
@mahaniok Ihar Mahaniok on x
@vkhosla @EthanChoi7 It could be a good moment to do something to ensure that Keith stops being associated with the Khosla brand.
@kanugulati @kanugulati on x
@vkhosla @EthanChoi7 Whatever one thinks about US immigration policy, ICE's structure raises red flags: inconsistent training, limited accountability, unclear rules of engagement, and masked operations; sadly these conditions create abuse
@adam__xyz Adam Del on x
If I were a founder in Khosla's portfolio, I'd just give them the money back. He is such an embarrassment.
@_coenen Andy Coenen on x
Imagine taking money from a bootlicking ghoul like this. I can understand being anti tax or anti regulation or anti immigration but have some humanity, jesus christ
@karlbode.com Karl Bode on bluesky
it's really impressive how many red-pilled brain wormed anti-democratic pieces of shit are in key positions of power in tech
@daniloc.xyz @daniloc.xyz on bluesky
A truly seismic fracture splitting a coalition that has been in lockstep since at least October 2024 — cannot overstate how consequential this moment is: these guys do not feel safe standing next to this radioactive ghoulish nonsense anymore — real people did that — techcru…
@carnage4life Dare Obasanjo on bluesky
At times like this I'm glad I deleted my X account so I don't encounter such ghoulish takes by tech bros and VCs. — Truly just the worst of humanity to celebrate a senseless death just to show your allegiance to their orange king.
@davidwelton David Welton on bluesky
Yeesh... techcrunch.com/2026/01/26/v... and of course all of them are utterly chained to Twitter
r/politics r on reddit
OpenAI's president is a Trump mega-donor
r/OpenAI r on reddit
OpenAI's president is a Trump mega-donor
r/technology r on reddit
Vinod Khosla publicly disavows Keith Rabois' comments on ICE shooting
@melaniatrump Melania Trump on x
MELANIA, the film A Historic Moment I am deeply humbled to have been surrounded by an inspiring room of friends, family, and cultural iconoclasts at the White House last night. Each of these individuals each brought their unique vision to the world, making a lasting impression. …
@paulrudnickny Paul Rudnick on x
Apple CEO Tim Cook attended the WH screening of MELANIA, endorsed Trump wholeheartedly and proudly posed with sexual predator and the movie's director Brett Ratner, while ICE agents were slaughtering a VA nurse in Minneapolis. Tim reportedly kept asking, “Is Goebbels here? Can …
@marlownyc Marlow Stern on x
here's apple CEO tim cook posing with accused sexual predator brett ratner at a screening of his ‘melania’ doc at the white house. olivia munn, one of ratner's alleged victims, stars in the apple tv+ series ‘your friends & neighbors.’ [image]
@adamscochran Adam Cochran on x
Hey @tim_cook, As one of the few Silicon Valley folks I know has a spine hidden somewhere, I have to ask you: How was this movie? The one you watched while Americans were shot. While ICE tracking apps were banned from the App Store. While you stayed silent on Trump. The one y…
@svershbow Sophie Vershbow on x
This is how you write a headline
@simon_schama Simon Schama on x
Tim Cook now turned himself into a fawning sycophant of a malevolent regime
@timodc Tim Miller on x
Apple has donated millions to the Trump Administration in the past year. Tim Cook's last post was honoring MLK a week ago. Pretty galling to offer a tribute to a long-dead icon's “commitment to justice” when you are funding injustice today.
@timodc Tim Miller on x
Tim Cook saw the video of Alex Pretti getting murdered by Trump's goons then put on a tuxedo and went to the White House to toast Melania. Revolting.
@michaelemann Prof Michael E. Mann on x
“Even if they showed this on a plane, people would still walk out.”
@thedailybeast @thedailybeast on x
The Apple CEO posed for a photo with an accused sex pest during a private screening of the Melania Trump documentary at the White House. https://www.thedailybeast.com/ ...
@melindagates Melinda French Gates on x
The deaths of Renée Nicole Good and Alex Pretti are unconscionable and weighing heavily on so many of our hearts. Over recent weeks, in Minneapolis and other communities across the country, we have seen neighbors standing up for each other with courage, compassion, and
@nothoodlum @nothoodlum on x
Remember, Tim Cook gave Trump $1 million for his inauguration, presented him with a 24-carat trophy, and attended a screening of Melania, a $75 million bribe by Jeff Bezos. Right after Trump's goons murdered a VA nurse in broad daylight. [image]
@ddiamond Dan Diamond on x
On tonight's White House agenda: Trump and guests will get a private screening of MELANIA, the documentary about the First Lady, @THR reports. Attendees include Apple CEO Tim Cook, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, Mike Tyson, per the article. [image]
@stevematthews12 Steve Matthews on x
Where are the business leaders who bend over for Trump by funding his White House destruction for a ballroom? This would be a great time for Tim Cook, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg and others to speak up in favor of democracy and peaceful protest. The lack of courage is stunning.
@danpfeiffer Dan Pfeiffer on x
This is so embarrassing for Tim Cook
@mgsiegler M.G. Siegler on x
Let them eat popcorn. https://spyglass.org/...
@paulrudnickny Paul Rudnick on x
Trump just posted that tickets to MELANIA are “selling out, fast!” You could say the same thing about Bari Weiss, Tim Cook, Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos
@ericnewcomer Eric Newcomer on x
Alex Pretti Is a Patriot. Tim Cook Is a Quisling. https://www.newcomer.co/...
@mollyjongfast Molly Jong-Fast on x
Talk about timing, the optics of this are really something
@gianmarcosoresi Gianmarco on x
How was the movie @tim_cook?????
@passantino Jon Passantino on bluesky
Not only did Tim Cook attend the private White House screening of “Melania,” he posed for a photo with Brett Ratner www.theverge.com/news/867567/ ...
@evansutton Evan Sutton on bluesky
The people who actually build the tech are getting fed up with the bootlicking and with their work being used to support these Temu Stormtroopers. The fracture in tech is a real wedge, and if you know tech workers you can help drive it (link in next post) www.nytimes.com/2026/01…
@hunterwalk.com @hunterwalk.com on bluesky
Apple was supposed to ship a foldable iPhone, not a foldable CEO — One More Thing indeed..... [embedded post]
@devindra Devindra Hardawar on bluesky
All of the above [embedded post]
@darylbaxter@mastodon.social Daryl Baxter on mastodon
Nothing like ruining a legacy than doing the following: — https://www.theverge.com/...
@Doomed_Daniel@mastodon.gamedev.place Daniel Gibson on mastodon
@Techmeme — not just Tim Cook, apparently: — “Among them was Andy Jassy, the chief executive of Amazon; Tim Cook, the chief executive of Apple; and Lisa Su, the chief executive of chip maker AMD.” — Source: https://www.nytimes.com/...
@viticci@mastodon.macstories.net @viticci@mastodon.macstories.net on mastodon
RE: https://mastodon.macstories.net/ ... 🤮
@chockenberry@mastodon.social Craig Hockenberry on mastodon
If you're an Apple shareholder, consider voting against Tim Cook at this year's meeting. — Takes less than a minute to do online and if enough smaller investors do, it sends a message that there are some things that are a hell of a lot more important than money.
@nicklockwood@mastodon.social Nick Lockwood on mastodon
I don't think Apple under a new CEO has a snowball's chance in hell of ever returning to its former glory, but at least with Cook gone it might stop being a daily source of psychic damage to anyone who ever identified as an Apple enthusiast
@marcoarment@mastodon.social Marco Arment on mastodon
“Apple's Tim Cook is among a group of CEOs being eviscerated for traveling to the White House on the same day Border Patrol agents killed a Veterans Affairs nurse in Minneapolis. ” Cook, who gifted President Donald Trump a 24-karat gold desk ornament on his last White House visi…
@lapcatsoftware@mastodon.social Jeff Johnson on mastodon
@marcoarment This is Apple's legacy. — Tim Cook is not a rogue agent. He was recommended for CEO by Steve Jobs and has the full support of the Apple board of directors, as well as the Apple executive leadership team who report directly to him, including potential successors, n…
@lapcatsoftware@mastodon.social Jeff Johnson on mastodon
Keep in mind about Tim Cook's collaboration that none of the other executives who work directly with Cook, indeed none of the potential CEO candidates, have resigned from Apple in protest. — Some executives have resigned, such as Jeff Williams, Lisa Jackson, and Kate Adams, but…
r/politics r on reddit
As Tech Chiefs Woo Trump, Silicon Valley Seethes Over Minneapolis Shootings
r/thebulwark r on reddit
White House Screening of Melania movie
r/apple r on reddit
Aside From That, Mr. Cook, What Did You Think of the Movie?
@bigblackjacobin Edward Ongweso Jr on x
One of the more cowardly moves many public figures make is saying “there is a big difference between deporting violent criminals and what's happening now.” It's taking advantage of how little the the public knows about the nature of our deportation machine
@zerohedge @zerohedge on x
“We didn't become super woke when that was popular” Bro
@jimsciutto Jim Sciutto on x
The kind of statement many CEOs have deliberately avoided:
@m_delamerced Michael de la Merced on x
Altman, who's become close to Trump as he advocates for OpenAI and the AI industry, made sure to praise the president: “President Trump is a very strong leader, and I hope he will rise to this moment and unite the country.” 2/x https://www.nytimes.com/...
@m_delamerced Michael de la Merced on x
Sam Altman of OpenAI told employees in an internal Slack obtained by @andrewrsorkin and me that “what's happening with ICE is going too far,” as we reported in @dealbook today. We have the whole memo 1/x

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Internal Slack message: Sam Altman tells OpenAI staff that “What's happening with ICE is going too far” and he hopes President Trump “will rise to this moment”

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