TLDRs;
- Trump urged Microsoft to fire Lisa Monaco, citing her service in past Democratic administrations as a security risk.
- Monaco, Microsoft’s global affairs chief, oversees cybersecurity and government relations after joining the company in May 2025.
- Activist Laura Loomer joined Trump’s criticism, urging cancellation of Microsoft’s government contracts over Monaco’s hiring.
- Microsoft, while facing political scrutiny, is pressing ahead with a $4B Wisconsin data center expansion to power AI growth.
U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited a political storm in the tech world, this time targeting Microsoft’s president of global affairs, Lisa Monaco.
Trump, posting on Truth Social, urged the company to dismiss Monaco, arguing her past positions in Democratic administrations made her continued presence at the tech giant a “national security risk.”
Monaco joined Microsoft in May 2025, overseeing cybersecurity policy, government relations, and global compliance. Her resume includes serving as deputy attorney general in the Biden administration and as a top national security aide during Barack Obama’s presidency. These ties, according to Trump, render her access to sensitive information “unacceptable.”
This criticism follows Trump’s earlier decision to revoke Monaco’s security clearance, along with those of several other former senior officials from past administrations. The move underlined his administration’s broader stance of limiting influence from former Democratic leaders in both government and industry roles.
Microsoft keeps quiet amid criticism
So far, Microsoft has chosen not to comment publicly on Trump’s call to dismiss Monaco. The company has often found itself navigating political scrutiny, particularly in areas tied to government contracts, cybersecurity, and data privacy.
Monaco’s hiring was seen as part of Microsoft’s broader strategy to deepen expertise in handling global affairs, particularly at a time when the company is expanding its cloud services, pursuing major defense contracts, and contending with heightened cybersecurity challenges.
Despite Trump’s remarks, no indication has emerged that Microsoft’s leadership is reconsidering Monaco’s role. Company insiders suggest her appointment was strategic in bridging relations with governments worldwide, especially as Microsoft plays a central role in deploying artificial intelligence and cloud infrastructure.
Activists join Trump’s call
Trump’s criticism has found support among some conservative activists, including Laura Loomer, who echoed his demand for Monaco’s removal. Loomer went further, calling for the cancellation of Microsoft’s lucrative government contracts, suggesting the company’s hiring decisions could compromise U.S. national interests.
Such pressure highlights the increasing politicization of private sector hires, particularly for roles that sit at the intersection of technology and national security.
While tech companies like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon continue to expand their influence in defense and government projects, their leadership choices are being scrutinized through a political lens.
Microsoft pursues $4B data center expansion
The controversy comes as Microsoft is pushing forward with one of its largest infrastructure expansions in the United States. Just weeks before Trump’s remarks, the company announced plans to invest $4 billion in building a second massive data center in Wisconsin.
The first center, opening in 2026, will house hundreds of thousands of Nvidia Blackwell GPUs capable of training advanced artificial intelligence systems. Brad Smith, Microsoft’s vice chair and president, emphasized that the project would not only bolster U.S. AI leadership but also commit to offsetting fossil fuel energy use with carbon-free sources.
The new facilities are expected to deliver unprecedented AI computing power, equivalent to ten times the performance of today’s fastest supercomputer. Local officials, including Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, welcomed the investment, highlighting its role in transforming the state into a hub for advanced computing infrastructure.
