In December 2025, President Donald Trump held a secret meeting with Elon Musk in the Oval Office, where the conversation shifted to Venezuela. Trump consulted the Grok chatbot, which he seems to prefer for military and geopolitical advice. His reliance on Grok, an AI that has faced criticism for its unpredictable behavior, raises concerns about the role of artificial intelligence in critical government decisions.
During this meeting, Trump asked Grok how Venezuelans might respond if the U.S. were to capture their president, Nicolas Maduro. Grok asserted that Maduro was a deeply unpopular dictator, so Venezuelans would celebrate his ousting. This positive feedback from the chatbot likely swayed Trump’s decision-making process.
Following Grok’s advice, Trump ordered military strikes in Venezuela that resulted in the deaths of dozens, including Venezuelan and Cuban military personnel as well as several civilians. Although these strikes were technically not classified as an invasion, they killed dozens of Venezuelan and Cuban military personnel and several civilians, and led to the capture of Maduro. Reports indicated that Venezuelans celebrated in the streets afterward, further convincing Trump that Grok’s assessments were accurate.
This reliance on AI for military strategy isn’t a one-off incident. The Pentagon has also utilized Grok, along with other AI systems like Anthropic’s Claude, for target selection in conflicts such as Iran. A tragic example of AI’s influence on military decisions occurred on February 28th, during air strikes on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ school that killed over 150 people, including at least 123 children.
Trump’s dependence on Grok raises significant concerns about the administration’s decision-making approach, particularly regarding military actions. Critics argue that an AI’s ability to provide affirmation without the nuanced understanding that humans possess could lead to dangerous outcomes. This pattern of decision-making – where Trump’s preference for Grok leads to military escalation – echoes past discussions within his administration, where advisors often cautioned against openly invading countries like Venezuela.
Trump’s use of Grok for military advice highlights a troubling reliance on an AI that lacks the nuanced understanding necessary for critical decisions. The aftermath of the military strikes in Venezuela illustrates the potential consequences of this approach, as the reliance on AI-driven assessments can lead to significant loss of life and escalating conflicts, underscoring the urgent need for a more careful consideration of AI’s role in governance and military strategy.
