Trump Tech Adviser David Sacks Allegedly Used White House Role to Boost His Podcast

David Sacks, a prominent Silicon Valley investor tapped to advise the White House on artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency policy, has drawn scrutiny for promoting his private media and business interests while serving in government.

Sacks, who helped found early PayPal ventures and now manages a wide-ranging investment portfolio, hosts the popular podcast All-In with fellow venture figures Chamath Palihapitiya, Jason Calacanis and David Friedberg. The show reaches roughly six million downloads per month, and its conference recently reported significantly higher ticket revenue compared with the prior year.

Allegations of self-promotion and pay-to-play optics

According to reporting and documents reviewed by reporters, Sacks used his position to seek promotional opportunities for the podcast while acting as a special government employee (SGE). In one instance, when Sacks presided over a government-backed A.I. summit, a proposal tied to the event included a sponsor package priced at $1 million for access to a private reception and other premium benefits—framed as opportunities to connect with the president and leading A.I. innovators. White House leadership intervened and required another organization to co-host the summit to avoid the appearance of an official endorsement of a private media outlet.

Supporters note that Sacks has brought high-profile attention to tech policy topics. Critics say his actions create troubling optics and potential conflicts of interest when a government adviser promotes private ventures that can profit from heightened visibility and access.

Financial ties and the SGE role

Public financial disclosures show Sacks holds hundreds of tech investments—reporting counts more than 700 stakes overall, including numerous positions in companies with ties to AI that could be affected by federal policy. As an SGE, he is subject to limits on federal workdays, but media coverage indicates he has scheduled permitted days nonconsecutively to maximize his time advising the administration.

“They are leading the White House down the road to perdition with this ascendant technocratic oligarchy.”

That criticism came from a former adviser who described Sacks as emblematic of an out-of-control tech elite. Supporters in the administration, however, defended Sacks’s participation and called his expertise valuable for the goal of strengthening American leadership in technology.

Policy influence and crypto activity

During Sacks’s tenure, the administration has seen renewed activity around cryptocurrency initiatives and related legislation. Reporters note Sacks was involved in efforts that coincided with gains in crypto markets and in advancing the so-called GENIUS Act through Congress, which supporters argued would promote innovation.

Requests for comment sent to Sacks and to the White House were not immediately answered. A spokesperson for Sacks called the suggestion of a conflict of interest unfounded, while White House representatives described his insights as an important asset for technology policy.