On Thursday, September 4, President Donald Trump hosted a private dinner at the White House with prominent figures from the tech industry, resulting in unexpected political headlines. Attendees included notable leaders such as Mark Zuckerberg from Meta, Bill Gates, Tim Cook of Apple, OpenAI's Sam Altman, Google's Sundar Pichai, and Sergey Brin, one of Google's founders.
During the gathering, Amanda Rosenberg, Brin's partner and marketing manager for Google Lens, directly addressed President Trump. She expressed her appreciation for the administration's measures against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. "Every time I'm in your presence, I feel very grateful. Thank you. I believe you are doing an incredible job," she remarked with emotion, referring to the pressure Washington has been applying on Caracas.
Sergey Brin also spoke, sharing that they had recently met with Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López, who is in exile. Brin commended Trump by stating, "You are putting a lot of pressure on Maduro, and I think that's phenomenal. That's what an American president should do. I hope the same approach is taken with Cuba and other places."
Brin's statement resonated strongly among Cuban activists and exiles, who perceived it as an uncommon show of solidarity in the tech world, as well as a significant political signal advocating for the rights and freedoms of those living under oppressive regimes.
The conversation snippet was shared on social media by Venezuelan journalist María Alesia Sosa. Meanwhile, Spanish journalist and White House correspondent David Alandete queried Trump about potential actions against cartels within Venezuela. "Well, you'll find out," the president replied, leaving his intentions ambiguous, similar to his prior surprise strike on Iran's nuclear facilities and military targets in late June.
The Trump administration has ramped up rhetoric and actions against the Chávez regime in recent weeks amidst mounting international pressure. Brin's comments have sparked a shared hope among many in the Cuban exile community—that the geopolitical spotlight might soon shift towards Havana.
Implications of U.S. Policy Toward Venezuela and Cuba
Why did Amanda Rosenberg thank President Trump?
Amanda Rosenberg expressed gratitude to President Trump for the actions his administration has taken against the regime of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela.
What did Sergey Brin hope for regarding U.S. foreign policy?
Sergey Brin hoped that the U.S. would apply similar pressure on Cuba and other regions as it has on Venezuela under President Trump's leadership.
How have Trump's actions impacted Venezuelan opposition leaders?
The increased pressure from Trump's administration has been welcomed by Venezuelan opposition leaders, including exiled leader Leopoldo López, as a sign of support for their cause.