[Digital Business Africa – Opinion] – When confronted with those who hold power or influence, truth is not always the strongest sword. Sometimes, silence cuts deeper than words. Sundar Pichai, the reserved CEO of Google, proved this point before Donald Trump at a White House state dinner on September 4, 2025.
I know the feeling well. When confronted with lies or distortions, I’ve often chosen silence. It puzzles those who know the truth, but sometimes silence and restraint weigh heavier than a rebuttal. Especially when the one across from you holds the power—or when you simply cannot win by correcting them.
That night, Pichai offered a masterclass in strategic restraint.
Trump had gathered the titans of tech: Mark Zuckerberg (Meta), Bill Gates (Microsoft), Tim Cook (Apple), Sam Altman (OpenAI)… with Elon Musk’s absence glaring.
At one point, Trump turned to Pichai: “Google had a great day yesterday. Would you like to talk about this memorable day?”
He was referring to Judge Amit Mehta’s ruling that spared Alphabet, Google’s parent company, from a brutal antitrust breakup. No forced split between Google Search and Chrome. The outcome? Alphabet gained a staggering $230 billion in market cap in just a week.
Humble as ever, Pichai replied: “I’m glad it’s over,” drawing laughter in the room. He then pivoted to flattery—praising Trump’s “leadership” on AI and America’s tech competitiveness.
That’s when Trump interrupted sharply: “It’s Biden who launched this lawsuit, you know that, right?”
False. The case was initiated by the Justice Department… under Trump himself. Pichai knew it. Everyone who followed the case knew it. Yet he did not correct the president.
Why? Because in that room, at that moment, the truth had no upside. Worse, pointing it out might have irritated Trump, jeopardized Google, and complicated other ongoing cases—especially those involving YouTube and Trump’s suspended accounts after the January 6 Capitol insurrection.
And that’s the lesson.
Sometimes, silence outperforms even the most eloquent defense of truth. Before correcting a boss, a strategic partner, or a political ally, ask yourself three questions:
- What do I gain by speaking the truth right now?
- What consequences might it have for me and my organization?
- Is this the right time and place to set the record straight?
That night, Pichai chose silence – and pivoted to praise:
“The AI moment is one of the most transformative moments any of us have ever seen or will see in our lifetimes. So making sure the U.S. is at the forefront — and I think your administration is investing a lot… Already the AI action plan under your leadership I think is a great start, and we look forward to working together. And thanks for your leadership.”
As Warren Buffett wisely put it: “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.”
Sundar Pichai did things differently. He preserved his own reputation, Google’s credibility, and, not least, its billions in market value—with nothing more than the power of silence.
By Beaugas ORAIN DJOYUM
