In late 2025, former President Donald Trump engaged extensively with Elon Musk’s AI chatbot, Grok, during a private meeting shortly before the U.S. military invaded Venezuela and captured its leader, Nicolás Maduro. This encounter occurred after Musk had stepped down from his government position in the Department of Government Efficiency earlier that year. Reports indicate that Trump sought Grok's insights on Venezuelan public sentiment regarding Maduro’s potential downfall and used the AI’s analyses to shape his approach.

Prior to the invasion, the U.S. had already begun military actions, including strikes on Venezuelan boats suspected of drug trafficking. Grok became a popular source for information on Venezuela’s political climate during this period. According to sources, the AI characterized Maduro as an unpopular dictator likely to be met with celebration by many Venezuelans if removed from power. This assessment was seemingly validated by the pro-U.S. demonstrations that followed the regime’s downfall, reinforcing Trump’s favorable impression of Grok’s strategic value.

The role of Grok has expanded beyond political advisories and into military applications. In mid-2026, the Pentagon's head of AI confirmed the use of Grok in directing military deployments and strikes during conflicts such as the Iran War. This signifies the growing integration of Musk’s AI tools within defense operations, alongside other AI providers like OpenAI and Anthropic, which have ongoing contracts and discussions with the Department of Defense regarding AI’s ethical and operational limits in military contexts.

Further solidifying Musk’s influence in defense technology, recent Pentagon announcements revealed that he and Anduril co-founder Palmer Luckey will lead a new study on the future use of advanced technology on the battlefield. Grok’s continued military adoption underlines its emergence as a favored AI solution within governmental and defense sectors, marking a notable shift in how artificial intelligence contributes to national security strategy and decision-making.