President Biden's recent warnings about the dangers of a “technological oligarchy” stand in stark contrast to the administration's unprecedented access to Microsoft, which Microsoft executives said 200 times during his term. I have visited the White House. Broad access to national security officials in particular has raised questions about the administration's relationships with big technology companies amid several cybersecurity crises and controversial deals.
In his farewell address to the nation, President Joe Biden warned of the dangers posed by the “high-tech oligarchy” and “tech-industrial complex” that dominate the American economy and political landscape, a move that echoes Elon Musk and Trump. This is clearly aimed at Trump supporters like Mr. Peter Thiel. But a closer look at his administration's unusual relationship with Microsoft raises serious questions about the credibility of his dire warnings.
During his administration, Microsoft executives visited the White House more than 200 times, involving 82 different executives, according to visitor records. Analysis by Foundation for Freedom Online. This access level is equivalent or equivalent exceed Google's influence during the Obama administration was criticized for making the administration too cozy with Big Tech. The revelations suggest an alarming level of influence that tech companies wield over Democratic administrations, including Google during the Obama administration and Microsoft now, particularly regarding key cybersecurity policies during the Biden era.
Hundreds of meetings with White House officials not only highlight Microsoft's closeness to the Biden administration, but also how the company strategically targeted the government's most sensitive areas did. Roughly one-third of these meetings involved National Security Council (NSC) officials, and Microsoft executives spoke directly with top national security figures such as Jake Sullivan and John Finer. .
as wired reported this weekSullivan and President Biden announced that Microsoft will acquire a minority stake in G42, an AI company based in Abu Dhabi, founded by Tahanun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the United Arab Emirates' intelligence chief. Brokered for a billion dollar transaction. . The agreement has raised concerns among US intelligence agencies given the close ties between the G42 and China.
On May 12, 2021, Microsoft President Brad Smith announced that Biden signed an executive order addressing the SolarWinds cyberattack, a breach that exposed vulnerabilities in Microsoft's systems and compromised federal agencies. On the same day, he met with senior NSC advisors. Microsoft's lobbying efforts under SolarWinds were aimed at shielding the company from scrutiny while promoting its security products to federal agencies. These products produced billions in revenue The money comes from government contracts, with national security agencies giving Microsoft more than $12 billion since 2018.
The timing of several key White House meetings suggests that Microsoft has used the crisis arising from the SolarWinds and Exchange Server breaches to expand its federal footprint. For example, on May 24, 2021 (days after Biden's Executive Order on SolarWinds), Microsoft executives Jason Zander and David Pritchard met with Vice Presidential National Security Advisor Ann Neuberger. Zander, who is responsible for Microsoft's federal relations, met with White House officials at least six times during Biden's term.
Critics argue that Microsoft's efforts have focused more on marketing its cybersecurity services to government customers than on resolving vulnerabilities in its own products. A hard-hitting 2021 report by Cyber Reason Microsoft accused it of putting profits over security and exposing its customers, including the federal government, to repeated cyberattacks.
President Biden's parting words about the tech oligarchy that dominates the U.S. economy are at odds with the administration's goodwill toward Microsoft. By granting the company unparalleled access to senior government officials, the Biden White House appears to be embracing the very dynamic he is now denouncing.
forbes report Joe Biden issued an executive order titled “Strengthening and Accelerating Innovation in the Nation's Cybersecurity” on January 16, 2025, just four days before the end of his presidential term. Forbes points out that:
Additionally, the executive order's emphasis on established frameworks such as NIST guidelines and FedRAMP certification raises concerns about potential vendor favoritism. While these programs are highly regarded, they essentially benefit vendors who are already certified and sideline new or smaller players who lack the resources to navigate the lengthy certification process. I'll drive you away. This could unintentionally inhibit competition in the cybersecurity field.
President-elect Donald Trump has taken a position criticizing Big Tech's monopolies. Under the previous Trump administration, the Justice Department filed major antitrust lawsuits against Google and Facebook, demonstrating its stance against entrenched corporate power. Insiders say top antitrust candidates like Justice Department's Pam Bondi and FTC's Andrew Ferguson are far tougher on the “tech oligarchy” than the Biden and Obama administrations. It suggests that he is deaf.
In fact, Biden's dire warnings about the “tech-industrial complex” happened on his watch.
Lucas Nolan is a reporter for Breitbart News covering free speech and online censorship issues.
