# Michael Kratsios steers Trump AI policy from White House OSTP

Digest AI · Policy & Regulation · published 2026-11-01T15:30:00Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/michael-kratsios-steers-trump-ai-policy-from-white-house-ostp

## Summary

Michael Kratsios, the 39-year-old director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), has become a central figure in the Trump administration's approach to technology. A former aide to Peter Thiel, Kratsios has transformed OSTP from a largely ceremonial body into a key engine for setting tech policy across the U.S. government. He now coordinates critical emerging technologies, including AI, nuclear, and quantum computing, effectively bridging the gap between the President and Silicon Valley.

The article details Kratsios' background, noting he has worked for Trump since January 20, 2017. He initially joined the transition team after watching Trump’s 2016 victory speech from Thiel Capital. Kratsios identified OSTP as an underutilized office with significant potential, arguing that previous directors, often PhD scientists, lacked the bureaucratic skills to make the office consequential. He views the role as a way to implement a comprehensive tech agenda that previous administrations had neglected.

The piece includes anecdotes from a recent National Medal of Science and Technology ceremony, where Kratsios organized a surprise video tribute to Trump’s uncle, John G. Trump. This event highlighted Kratsios' ability to manage the President’s preferences while coordinating high-profile tech leaders like Jensen Huang, Elon Musk, and Satya Nadella. The article positions Kratsios as one of the few individuals with the latitude to shape AI policy in an administration where the President has personally commandeered the issue.

## Key points

- Michael Kratsios, 39, directs White House OSTP and coordinates AI, nuclear, and quantum policy.
- Kratsios, a former Peter Thiel aide, has worked for Trump since January 20, 2017.
- He transformed OSTP from a ceremonial office into a key driver of federal tech strategy.

## Why it matters

Kratsios' consolidation of tech policy authority under OSTP signals a shift in how the U.S. government regulates and promotes AI, moving away from fragmented agency approaches toward a centralized, executive-driven strategy.

## Sources

1. [A profile of White House OSTP Director Michael Kratsios, an ex-Peter Thiel aide who is among a handful of players steering the Trump administration's AI policy](https://colossus.com/article/michael-kratsios-office-frontier-ostp) (colossus.com, 2026-11-01)

## Cite

Digest AI, "Michael Kratsios steers Trump AI policy from White House OSTP", 1 November 2026, https://digestai.news/story/michael-kratsios-steers-trump-ai-policy-from-white-house-ostp

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