On January 3, 2026, the U.S. invaded Venezuela and captured its president, Nicolás Maduro. This military action followed a secret meeting between President Trump and Elon Musk in December 2025, where they discussed the political situation in Venezuela. Reports indicate that Trump spent hours interacting with Musk’s AI chatbot, Grok, during this meeting, asking how Venezuelans would respond to the capture of their president.
Leading up to the invasion, Trump began ordering U.S. military strikes against Venezuelan boats starting in September 2025, alleging they were involved in drug trafficking. This military escalation paved the way for discussions with Grok, as Trump sought insight into how the Venezuelan populace might respond to Maduro’s potential capture. Grok informed Trump that many Venezuelans would likely celebrate Maduro’s downfall.
When celebrations erupted following the U.S. invasion, Trump reportedly viewed his interactions with Grok as “ingenious.” This suggests that the AI not only provided actionable intelligence but also influenced Trump’s perspective on the military action.
The implications of this interaction go beyond political banter. The Pentagon’s head of AI mentioned that the military had also used Gov Grok for deploying and striking targets during the Iran War. Grok isn’t the only AI model working with the Department of Defense; OpenAI has an agreement with the DoD, and Anthropic has discussed using its models for military intelligence.
Under the current administration, Grok may become an even bigger favorite. Recently, the Pentagon announced that Musk and Anduril’s Palmer Luckey have been tapped to co-lead a study on leveraging advanced technology in battlefields. This indicates a trend where AI tools like Grok are becoming integral to military strategy and political decision-making.
The use of Grok in such a significant political and military context raises essential questions about the future of AI in governance and military operations. As technology evolves, understanding its implications will be crucial for both policymakers and citizens alike.
