At the Golden Age of American Innovation Summit on Thursday, President Donald Trump awarded the National Medal of Science to Elon Musk, Jensen Huang, Sergey Brin, and AMD CEO Lisa Su. The National Medal of Technology and Innovation was presented to Michael Dell of Dell Technologies and Satya Nadella of Microsoft. These awards represent the highest honors for scientific and technological achievement in the United States.
According to The New Republic, the recipients have collectively contributed nearly $6 billion to initiatives associated with the Trump administration. Notably, Alphabet and Microsoft donated to President Trump's inauguration fund and White House events, while AMD supported a pro-Trump Super PAC. Michael and Susan Dell committed $6.25 billion to the Trump Accounts, a savings program aimed at children.
During the ceremony, Trump praised the honorees for their role in advancing American innovation, stating that their efforts ensure the country remains a global leader in technology. The awards come amid ongoing tensions, as Microsoft was recently suspended indefinitely from the H-1B visa program, which allows U.S. companies to hire skilled foreign workers, highlighting the complex relationship between the administration and the tech industry.
These recognitions underscore the administration's focus on celebrating contributions from major technology figures, even as policy decisions continue to impact the sector.