President Trump and his team often highlight the $2 trillion in new company investments made since he took office. They view this as evidence of a significant economic revival and believe that tariffs can serve as an incentive to attract more commitments. A review of over 60 projects conducted by Yahoo Finance reveals that the majority of these investments are concentrated in the Big Tech sector, particularly in areas where the final tariff policies under the Trump administration remain uncertain.
Tech projects, such as those involving semiconductor companies and “AI infrastructure,” along with a commitment from Apple, account for nearly 85% of the total pledged funds. Healthcare and new pharmaceutical manufacturing make up about 11%, while the remaining 4.2% consists of various commitments in sectors like new energy projects and food companies.
The White House website keeps a running record of these projects, which President Trump frequently cites to support his stance on tariffs during meetings with CEOs. He praises the role of tariffs and incentives in attracting these investments, calling them “amazing.”
The semiconductor industry, led by companies like Nvidia, IBM, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), has made significant pledges, with Apple’s contribution alone comprising a substantial portion of the total investments. The uncertainty surrounding Trump’s tariff plans for these companies is a notable aspect, as specific tariffs for semiconductors have yet to be announced.
Similarly, investments in healthcare and pharmaceuticals from companies like Abbott Laboratories and Roche are also noteworthy. Despite the lack of clarity on Trump’s trade agenda for these sectors, companies continue to make commitments, reflecting their confidence in the market.
The awards have prompted discussions about the specifics of these investments, particularly in terms of their scope and implementation. For instance, Nvidia’s plans involve partnerships to generate up to half a trillion dollars in investments over the next few years. These initiatives build upon previous investments made during the Biden administration, facilitated by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, which provided government grants for such projects.
President Trump has repeatedly denied any connection to the CHIPs Act, calling it “ridiculous” and stating that it does not incentivize companies to build. He believes that these companies do not seek financing and are self-sufficient. Trump interacted with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang at an “Investing in America” event. Many of Trump’s funding announcements involve companies focusing on “AI infrastructure” to boost America’s computing and server capabilities for the growing artificial intelligence sector. A notable project is the $500 billion “Project Stargate” led by OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle. Despite skepticism from figures like Elon Musk, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman remains optimistic about the project’s potential. Altman emphasized the importance of infrastructure investment for the future of AI. Apart from Big Tech, the White House investments cover a range of sectors, including automobiles, food, defense, and consumer goods. Examples include investments in bicycle frame manufacturing in Indiana, chocolate in Virginia, and a new Toyota production site in West Virginia. The Toyota investment garnered praise from Trump, who described the upcoming plant as “a beauty.” President Trump and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman discussed these investments during a news conference. Ben Werschkul is a Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance. For more on political news impacting business and financial policies, visit Yahoo Finance for the latest updates.
