From tech podcasts to policy: Trump's new AI plan leans heavily on Silicon Valley industry ideas
The 'AI Action Plan' introduced Wednesday embraces many of the ideas voiced by tech industry lobbyists and the Silicon Valley investors who backed Trump's election campaign last year.
The White House on Wednesday revealed the 'AI Action Plan' Trump ordered after returning to the White House in January. Trump gave his tech advisers six months to come up with new AI policies after revoking President Joe Biden's signature AI guardrails on his first day in office.
The unveiling is co-hosted by the bipartisan Hill and Valley Forum and the 'All-In' podcast, a business and technology show hosted by four tech investors and entrepreneurs, which includes Trump's AI czar, David Sacks.
The plan includes some familiar tech lobby pitches. That includes accelerating the sale of AI technology abroad and making it easier to construct the energy-hungry data center buildings that are needed to form and run AI products. It also includes some of the AI culture war preoccupations of the circle of venture capitalists who endorsed Trump last year.
Trump's AI plan: global dominance, cutting regulations
The plan prioritizes AI innovation and adoption, urging the removal of any 'red tape' that could be slowing down adoption across industries and government.
But it also seeks to guide the industry's growth to address a longtime rallying point for the tech industry's loudest Trump backers: countering the liberal bias they see in AI chatbots such as ChatGPT or Google's Gemini.
Trump's plan seeks to block the government from contracting with tech companies unless they 'ensure that their systems are objective and free from top-down ideological bias.' A Biden-era framework for evaluating the riskiest AI applications should also be stripped of any references to 'misinformation, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and climate change,' the plan said.
The plan also says the nation's leading AI models should protect free speech and be 'founded on American values,' though it doesn't define which values those should include.
Sacks, a former PayPal executive and now Trump's top AI adviser, has been criticizing 'woke AI' for more than a year, fueled by Google's February 2024 rollout of an AI image generator that, when asked to show an American Founding Father, created pictures of Black, Asian and Native American men.
Google quickly fixed its tool, but the 'Black George Washington' moment remained a parable for the problem of AI's perceived political bias, taken up by X owner Elon Musk, venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, Vice President JD Vance and Republican lawmakers.
Streamlining AI data center permits to speed up supercomputer construction
The plan aims to speed up permitting and loosen environmental regulation to accelerate construction on new data centers and factories and the power sources to fuel them. It condemns 'radical climate dogma' and recommends lifting a number of environmental restrictions, including clean air and water laws.
Trump has previously paired AI's need for huge amounts of electricity with his own push to tap into U.S. energy sources, including gas, coal and nuclear.
Many tech giants are already well on their way toward building new data centers in the U.S. and around the world. OpenAI announced this week that it has switched on the first phase of a massive data center complex in Abilene, Texas, part of an Oracle-backed project known as Stargate that Trump promoted earlier this year. Amazon, Microsoft, Meta and xAI also have major projects underway.
The tech industry has pushed for easier permitting rules to get its computing facilities connected to power, but the AI building boom has also contributed to spiking demand for fossil fuel production, which will contribute to global warming.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called on the world's major tech firms to power data centers completely with renewables by 2030.
'A typical AI data center eats up as much electricity as 100,000 homes,' Guterres said. 'By 2030, data centers could consume as much electricity as all of Japan does today.'
The plan includes a strategy to disincentivize states from aggressively regulating AI technology. It recommends that federal agencies 'consider a state's AI regulatory climate when making funding decisions and limit funding if the state's AI regulatory regimes may hinder the effectiveness of that funding or award.'
Trump's Republican administration had supported a different proposal in Congress to block states from passing any AI laws for 10 years, but the Senate defeated it earlier this month.
Who benefits from Trump's AI action plan?
There are sharp debates on how to regulate AI, even among the influential venture capitalists who have been debating it on their favorite medium: the podcast.
While some Trump backers, particularly Andreessen, have advocated an 'accelerationist' approach that aims to speed up AI advancement with minimal regulation, Sacks has described himself as taking a middle road of techno-realism.
'Technology is going to happen. Trying to stop it is like ordering the tides to stop. If we don't do it, somebody else will,' Sacks said on the 'All-In' podcast.
On Tuesday, more than 100 groups, including labor unions, parent groups, environmental justice organizations and privacy advocates, signed a resolution opposing Trump's embrace of industry-driven AI policy and calling for a 'People's AI Action Plan' that would 'deliver first and foremost for the American people.'
Amba Kak, co-executive director of the AI Now Institute, which helped lead the effort, said the coalition expects Trump's plan to come 'straight from Big Tech's mouth.'
'Every time we say, 'What about our jobs, our air, water, our children?' they're going to say, 'But what about China?'' she said in a call with reporters Tuesday. She said Americans should reject the White House's argument that the industry is overregulated and fight to preserve 'baseline protections for the public' as AI technology advances.
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50 Money Moves To Make Before the End of 2025
The year will be over before you realize it; and, if you're not careful, critical opportunities to build your wealth will be gone, too. Learn More: See Next: Fortunately, there are plenty of moves to make it through the remaining summer, fall and winter seasons. Doing this now ensures you're hitting your financial goals and kicking 2026 off with a bang when it comes to your money. Keep reading for our full list of 50 money moves to make before the year ends. Also see money moves you should make in every decade of your life. Understand How the 'Big Beautiful Bill' Will Impact Your Finances President Donald Trump's tax and spending megabill, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, will impact the finances of virtually all Americans. It's important to understand which benefits associated with this bill may work in your favor. Mark Gelbman, financial advisor and owner of Strategic Wealth Solutions, outlined a few areas for families and individuals to consider: The 2017 tax cuts have received a permanent extension, providing long-term certainty for households regarding their tax liabilities. The child tax credit has increased from $2,000 to $2,200. 'Trump Accounts' have been introduced with a one-time deposit of $1,000 from the federal government for children born from 2024 to 2028. According to Gelbman, families receive a 'baby bonus' via the savings vehicle for the next four years — which allows for tax-free growth on contributions up to $5,000 annually until the child turns 18. Americans ages 65 and over will be allowed a $6,000 deduction for tax relief purposes. However, Gelbman said qualifying seniors are individuals who earn no more than $75,000 a year or married couples who make $150,000. Additional considerations include, but are not limited to, increased standard deductions, the ability to deduct tip income and the temporarily raised cap on SALT deductions. Set aside time to meet with a financial advisor to see which aspects of this bill you need to know about before the start of the new year. Find Out: View Next: Clearly Define Your Financial Goals What will you do with your money in 2026? Now's the time to set clear financial goals and prioritize them accordingly. Some of these goals may include buying a home or a car, planning a wedding, having a baby, paying off debt, building an emergency fund and more. Janelle Sallenave, chief spending officer at Chime, recommends making money goals as clear as possible. Doing so not only allows you to break each goal down into manageable steps, but it also gives your money direction and keeps you focused on what matters most for your financial future. Try This: Max Out Employer Retirement Contributions The fall season is a good time to see whether you're on track to max out contributions in your employer-sponsored retirement account. In 2025, you can contribute up to $23,500 in a 401(k) — if you're age 50 or older, you can add an additional $7,500 via catch-up contributions. Max Out Your IRA For 2025, the maximum contribution is $7,000 for an IRA. Those ages 50 and older are allowed to make a $1,000 catch-up contribution as well. Fully Fund Your Health Savings Account (HSA) 'An HSA offers triple tax benefits (deductible contributions, tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses),' Gelbman explained. 'Many people contribute to an HSA to offset current healthcare expenses, but the balance carries over each year, which means that money can also be invested for the future.' Contribute To a 529 Savings Plan Another tax-advantaged account worth funding is a 529 plan for education expenses. Qualifying expenses — private school tuition for K-12, college tuition, room and board, books, computers and more — can be paid using these funds at any time. Plan To Use Your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Austin Kilgore, consumer finance expert and analyst with the Achieve Center for Consumer Insights, recommends checking your flexible spending account (FSA) balance. If you have funds in this account, you need to make plans to use them. How soon should you use the funds? Kilgore said to check your plan documents or check in with your HR department for the year-end date associated with your plan. Once you know your given date, use the FSA money on the products or services you need, or you will lose these benefits. That's Interesting: Determine Your Eligibility for Extended Deadlines What if you reside in a federally declared disaster area? Robby J. Graham, CPA and wealth strategist at Waddell & Associates, said you may be eligible to make 2024 contributions to IRAs and HSAs beyond the standard deadlines. He recommended 'consulting a qualified tax professional to confirm your eligibility and the specific postponement date applicable to your state to take advantage of this opportunity.' Build an Emergency Fund Don't already have an emergency fund as a financial safety net? Start building one now that can cover three to six months' worth of expenses (at a minimum). Rebuild Your Emergency Fund Did you dip into your emergency fund this year to pay for an expected medical bill or another critical expense? Use the remaining part of this year to rebuild this fund. See Whether Your Employer Offers an Emergency Savings Account Feeling overwhelmed thinking about how to save three to six months of expenses with five months left in the calendar year? Your workplace may offer an emergency savings account (ESA) to help automate the process. Devin Miller, CEO and co-founder at SecureSave, recommends finding out whether your employer offers an ESA and signing up to have contributions in this emergency fund come directly from your paycheck. Create a Realistic Budget Your financial goals in 2026 might be different than those in 2025 and your budget should be updated to reflect these changes. Gelbman recommends analyzing your 2025 spending and income to create a realistic 2026 budget. Discover More: Identify Important Luxuries in Your Budget If you create an extremely restrictive budget, chances are highly likely you won't stick to it. Ahead of next year, Erica Sandberg, consumer finance expert at said to review your spending and consider purchases or experiences you value most. This can be — as examples — attending a baseball game with your family, getting manicures at a nail salon or going out to dinner with friends. Build these important luxuries into your budget and get rid of things and/or activities you don't need. Plan To Pay Off High-Interest Debt After creating a budget and a fully funded emergency fund, your next priority will be to pay off any high-interest debt you may have accumulated. Consider using the snowball or avalanche repayment methods. The snowball method knocks out debt with lower interest rates and builds up to those with higher rates while the avalanche method starts with highest-interest debt and works down to debt with smaller rates. Put Your Bonus Toward Debt If you're receiving a year-end bonus, Gelbman recommends putting it toward the balance of any debt you're paying off. Put Your Bonus Into Savings Don't have any debt? Put your upcoming year-end bonus into your savings account. Put Your Bonus Into Your Retirement Savings Account Still need to top off your IRA or Roth IRA contributions for 2025? Transfer your upcoming year-end bonus into this account. Check Out: Talk to Your Creditors If You Experienced Hardship This Year If you experienced hardship this year and are trying to pay off your credit cards, Kilgore recommends checking in with your creditors and explaining your situation. According to Kilgore, these creditors might be open to changing credit terms, arranging payment plans, deferring payments or waiving interest. Consider Personal Loans With Lower Interest Rates Can't pay off all your debt this year alone? Kilgore recommends seeing whether you qualify for a personal loan at a favorable rate. Doing so will allow you to pay off debt with higher interest and then just have the one loan leftover with a lower rate. Look Into Credit Counseling 'Sometimes credit counseling can provide a decrease in a credit card interest rate,' said Kilgore. Explore a Debt Settlement This option is ideal for someone who has lost their job or is dealing with major medical expenses and is struggling to make even the minimum payments on what they owe. Debt settlement, Kilgore said, negotiates with creditors to lower principal balances due. Set Up Automatic Savings This money move is as powerful as it is easy. Sandberg said nearly every bank and credit union has a free system that allows customers to have a fixed amount of money seamlessly divert from a checking account into a savings account on a regular basis. 'I recommend smaller increments made twice a month over one big lump sum once a month,' she said. 'For example, you may want to have $50 moved from your checking account on the 1st and then again on the 15th. By the end of the year, you'll have $1,200 saved.' Explore Next: Strive To Save 10% From Every Paycheck You may be financially able to do this as soon as this year or you might need to wait until 2026. In any event, as you set up automated savings, make it a point to save 10% or more from every paycheck. Plan Holiday Budgets From buying Halloween costumes to paying for a Thanksgiving feast and taking a year-end vacation, now's a good time to start assessing your upcoming holiday spending and set aside enough money to cover those expenses. Track Any Tips or Overtime You Earn This ties back in with the new Big Beautiful Bill legislation. Gelbman said taxes on tips and overtime will be deductible for many Americans. Ahead of next year's tax season, Kasey Pittman, CPA and managing director of tax policy at Cherry Bekaert, recommends monitoring upcoming guidance from the IRS and Treasury Department for more information on how new compensation-related provisions will be implemented. This is vitally important for taxpayers who receive a significant portion of their income from tips or overtime. Pittman said it will affect reporting and withholdings. Review and Adjust Your Tax Withholding Before 2025 ends, Gelbman recommends reviewing your income and deductions for the year. This ensures your tax withholding from your paycheck or estimated tax payments are sufficient. 'If you anticipate owing a significant amount come tax time,' he said, 'adjusting your withholding or making an additional payment before year's end can help you avoid underpayment penalties.' Reevaluate Whether You Should Itemize Your Deductions If you typically take the standard deduction when filing taxes, consider revisiting this strategy. 'The new $40,000 cap on the state and local tax (SALT) deduction — up from the longstanding $10,000 cap — may make itemizing more beneficial for those with significant SALT payments,' Pittman said. 'However, high-income individuals may begin to phase out of this benefit under the new overall itemized deductions limitation, so it's worth running the numbers now.' For You: Seniors: Review Your Social Security Income Pittman said Social Security income has not been excluded from taxation under the new law, despite misinformation to the contrary. Rather, a temporary $6,000 deduction was created for eligible seniors — with benefits starting to phase out for individuals earning more than $75,000 (or $150,000 for joint filers). 'Social Security income remains partially taxable depending on other income levels. Seniors should confirm how these thresholds affect their 2025 return,' Pittman said. Take Any Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) From Qualified Retirement Accounts To do this properly, Richard Craft, CEO of Wealth Advisory Group, said you need to calculate the required minimum distribution (RMD) amount from all qualified sources. The distribution can be taken from any combination of your retirement accounts. However, Craft said it does need to come out of each account specifically. Otherwise, the IRS imposes a 25% excise tax on the amount you were supposed to take out but did not. Explore New Long-Term Savings Options for Children Earlier, we mentioned 'Trump Accounts' as a new savings vehicle for children. If you're expecting a child in 2025, Pittman said it's worth discussing long-term savings strategies now to take advantage of this provision once it goes into effect. Plan Charitable Giving Before Dec. 31, Gelbman said to make charitable donations to claim the tax deductions for 2025. He recommends donating appreciated securities to avoid capital gains taxes while supporting the causes you care about. Make a Qualified Charitable Distribution A qualified charitable distribution is specific to those ages 70 ½ and older. Gelbman said a QCD from an IRA can satisfy your required minimum distributions (RMDs) while also reducing taxable income. Be Aware: Make a Significant Contribution To a Donor-Advised Fund Ideally, this money move should be made by those who regularly find themselves in a high tax bracket or have experienced a liquidity event, like a business sale. Graham said it could provide a current-year tax deduction and flexibility for future charitable giving. Make Gifts of $19,000 Per Recipient Under the Annual Gift Tax Exclusion Craft said gifting money today, without any transfer tax, allows the money to grow outside of your estate for the benefit of the person who receives the gift. Consider making this financial gift to your child, if you're able. 'This allows the money to grow for the child's benefit, which is generally at a lower income tax rate,' Craft said. 'Better yet, give your child money to contribute to an IRA or Roth IRA — which can grow tax deferred or tax free over their lifetime.' Don't Miss Federal Incentives for Clean Energy Vehicles Do you plan to buy a new or used clean energy vehicle? Don't push this purchase out to next year. Make it before the end of September. 'Under the new tax bill, clean vehicle tax credits are only available for purchases made through Sept. 30, 2025,' Pittman said. Explore Home Solar Tax Credits ASAP Another clean energy initiative, which is homeowner specific, are tax credits for residential energy efficiency improvements and home clean energy systems. According to Pittman, these expire after Dec. 31. Small Business Owners: Consider Changing Your Business Structure If you run a small business incorporated as a pass-through entity, like an S Corporation, Pittman recommends assessing the impact of expanded business provisions. A few considerations include changes to depreciation methods, interest expense deductibility and research-related activities. 'The law also raises income thresholds for the Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction. Some small business owners may find it beneficial to evaluate whether operating as a Qualified Small Business C Corporation makes sense under the new rules,' said Pittman. Read Next: Consider Making an After-Tax Contribution To an IRA This is known as a backdoor Roth contribution. It can grow tax-free for decades and with no RMDs due. However, Craft recommends carefully understanding this strategy and how it must be done before moving forward with it. Rebalance Your Portfolio Graham said the recent market rally may mean now is a good time to rebalance your portfolio. 'In some cases, aligning your asset allocation with your current risk tolerance can also assist in reducing downside volatility and maintaining long-term investment discipline,' he said. Explore Tax-Loss Harvesting To properly do this, Gelbman said you'll need to review your investment portfolio for underperforming assets and sell those investments at a loss. Doing so can help offset capital gains taxes and up to $3,000 of ordinary income. Gelbman said, 'Make sure you comply with IRS wash-sale rules, which state that you cannot sell a security at a loss for tax benefits, but then turn around and buy the same or a similar security within 30 days.' Consult a Tax Advisor Do you need help optimizing the tax-loss harvesting strategy or have questions about how the Big Beautiful Bill may impact your taxes next year? Reach out to a tax advisor for the answers to get ahead for 2026. Check Your Credit Report Can't remember the last time you checked your credit report? Make a point to do it before the year ends. Kilgore said you can obtain reports from major credit reporting bureaus like Experian and Equifax at no charge. Carefully review these reports and see whether there are any inaccuracies. If there are, you can follow the directions on the agency's website to correct them. Trending Now: Check Your Bank Accounts (Daily) Start getting into the habit of checking your savings and checking accounts every day for the remainder of 2025 and beyond. Doing so allows you to know exactly how much money you have available and stop any potential fraud in its tracks. Take Advantage of Financial Tools Speaking of checking your accounts, now's a good time to download banking apps to better understand what's happening with your money and to stay on top of your finances on a regular basis. Update Financial Account Passwords Can't recall the last time you updated the passwords on your financial accounts? Kilgore recommends updating these passwords for additional strength to make them less vulnerable to hackers. Have the Right Cards When's the last time you did an audit in your wallet? Sandberg recommends examining your plastic portfolio before the year wraps and review where you want to pare down or add as needed. Seek Out Small Ways To Save Money Get in the habit of becoming a smart spender and look for small ways you can save money on bills. A few recommendations include washing clothes in cold water, making meals based on what's in your pantry or freezer and walking instead of driving if your destination is a short distance away. View More: Pay Your Bills on Time Admittedly, a lot of what you're reading can sound overwhelming if you haven't checked it all off your list yet. So, let's toss in an easy money move to make: Paying your bills on time. If you're already doing this, great job. If not, set up a system like getting an alert from an online calendar or writing it down on a whiteboard at home. That allows you to see all your due dates and know exactly when to make payments. Talk About Money The end of the year brings with it more occasions for spending money — and embarrassment or anxiety if you're not comfortable telling family or friends you can't afford it. Sallenave recommends leaning into the habit of talking about finances with your partner, family members and friends. Meet With a Financial Advisor If you made it to the end of this list, you might have questions and thoughts regarding your financial bigger picture. Make time to meet with a financial advisor, ask questions and get answers to better plan for the year ahead. More From GOBankingRates Mark Cuban Warns of 'Red Rural Recession' -- 4 States That Could Get Hit Hard 5 Cities You Need To Consider If You're Retiring in 2025 Mark Cuban Tells Americans To Stock Up on Consumables as Trump's Tariffs Hit -- Here's What To Buy This article originally appeared on 50 Money Moves To Make Before the End of 2025 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
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Should You Actually Invest Your Own Money in the Trump Baby Accounts?
One of the key provisions of President Donald Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' establishes so-called 'Trump Accounts,' designed to encourage savings for newborn children. In addition to receiving an initial deposit from the federal government, the accounts allow for additional contributions by parents or employers. Read Next: Check Out: The question is this: Should you actually invest your own money in these accounts? Or is there a better option among the other types of regular and tax-advantaged accounts that are already available? Here's a brief overview of the provisions of the Trump baby accounts and some recommendations as to whether or not you should invest. What Are the Parameters of the Trump Baby Accounts? The Trump Accounts are custodial, tax-deferred accounts that are somewhat like a hybrid of a traditional custodial account and an IRA account. They are registered in the name of the child, like a custodial account, and the money inside grows tax-deferred, like in an IRA. Money in a Trump Account cannot be withdrawn until age 18. After that, withdrawals can be made, but they are fully taxable and may be subject to a 10% penalty if withdrawn before age 59 1/2, as with IRAs and other tax-deferred retirement accounts. As with IRAs, there are some exceptions to the 10% penalty rule, including withdrawals for higher education and the purchase of a first home. One of the unique benefits of a Trump Account is that the government will fund the first $1,000 in each and every account. After that, parents or employers can contribute up to an additional $5,000 per year, with a limit of $2,500 coming from employers. Unlike investments in other tax-deferred accounts, like 529 plans, IRAs and 401(k) plans, investments within a Trump Account are strictly limited to a U.S. stock market index fund. Find Out: Comparison of Trump Accounts With 529 Plans Here's a side-by-side comparison of the basic provisions of a Trump Account with a 529 plan, which is a commonly used, tax-deferred college funding account. Trump Account 529 Plan Government Contribution $1,000 $0 Contribution Limit $5,000 annually Variable; typically in the $300,000 range over the lifetime of the account Investment Options A U.S. stock index fund Typically a range of mutual funds or ETFs Taxation of Withdrawals Fully taxable; 10% penalty before age 59 1/2, with some exceptions (first-time homebuyer, education, etc.) Tax-free if used for education; earnings are fully taxable otherwise, with a 10% early withdrawal penalty if not used for qualified purpose Account Ownership Child's name; could affect student aid Account owner's name (typically a parent); reduced FAFSA impact Tax Treatment of Contributions Funded with after-tax money Funded with after-tax money Withdrawal Time Frame Not allowed until after age 18; taxable upon withdrawal Anytime, but must be used for education to be tax-free Risk Level 100% equity portfolio; restricted withdrawals until 18 More diversified investment options Asset Management One investment option State investment plans or professional advisor; some DIY options So What's the Verdict? As Michael Reynolds, a certified financial planner at Elevation Financial in the Indianapolis area, told NPR, 'I'm going to take the thousand dollars, definitely. Nothing wrong with that.' But beyond that, most advisors suggest that 529 plans might be the better option. Here are some of the main advantages of a 529 plan over a Trump Account: Higher maximum contributions over life of account More diversified investment options Accounts count as parents' assets, not child's assets Money can be withdrawn at any time, instead of being locked in account until the child turns age 18 (taxes and penalties may apply). The main advantage of the Trump Account is the initial $1,000 in seed funding from the federal government. That, advisors agree, is something parents should take advantage of. But adding more money to these accounts — while better than not saving at all — may not be the optimal use of your child's investment funds. Editor's note on political coverage: GOBankingRates is nonpartisan and strives to cover all aspects of the economy objectively and present balanced reports on politically focused finance stories. You can find more coverage of this topic on More From GOBankingRates Mark Cuban Says Trump's Executive Order To Lower Medication Costs Has a 'Real Shot' -- Here's Why This article originally appeared on Should You Actually Invest Your Own Money in the Trump Baby Accounts?
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I'm a proud American who wanted to stay on the frontlines in Ukraine rather than come home to Columbia University
United States Air Force drone pilot Sam Nahins just returned to NYC after three weeks volunteering on the frontlines in Ukraine. Nahins, 32, — a Jewish graduate student in fine arts at Columbia University was among those trapped inside Butler Library in May when it was taken over by anti-Israel protesters — tells The Post's Doree Lewak about his anxious homecoming. I'm a proud American patriot — I love this country to death. That's why I enlisted in the US Air Force for six years as soon as I graduated high school in North Carolina. I spent three weeks this summer volunteering on the frontlines in Ukraine with the relief group Help is on the WayUA, providing supplies to the frontlines. Advertisement We survived getting shelled, being attacked by drones and skirted artery fire 24/7. 4 US Air Force veteran Sam Nahins just returned from three weeks of volunteering in Ukraine. Courtesy of Sam Nahins But when it was over, my feeling was, 'I don't want to come home.' Advertisement Just look at my school's recent history. Last month, the notorious group Unity of Fields — the same group which took over Columbia's Butler Library — posted on X an image of mass veterans coffins draped in American flags accompanied by a heart emoji and caption reading, 'soon inshallah.' It means 'G-d willing.' That's who I'm going to school with. Of course I'm not going to feel welcome. Veterans aren't looking for a thank you. We just don't want to be called baby killers anymore. We don't want to be threatened and disrespected like this. Advertisement 4 Nahins says he was trapped inside Butler Hall when a mob of anti-Israel protesters invaded. REUTERS My friend, fellow veteran and Columbia classmate, Brandon Christie, stopped attending classes in the weeks following Oct. 7, 2023 – and ultimately took his own life. So when Columbia sits by as Veterans Day is hijacked for Martyrs Day and laud groups like Unity of Fields, you start to get the picture. My motivation for going to Ukraine was simple: I've flown drones for the US Air Force, flying a plane remotely somewhere in the Middle East fighting ISIS and al Qaeda. Advertisement 4 Nahins, a Columbia student, said he felt more at ease in Ukraine than New York. Courtesy of Sam Nahins I served overseas in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. But I'd never actually been to a warzone. I needed that perspective. I was getting shelled and attacked by drones while embedded with Ukraine's 25th battalion. But I was in good hands. No one was trying to stab me in the back — at least I knew what the enemy was. Turns out, I felt more at ease in Ukraine than I do in New York. As a grad student at Columbia, where 20-year-olds who have never seen a war in their lives call me 'baby killer,' 'murderer' and 'colonizer,' I feel like my own school and city don't have my back. In Ukraine, people proudly wave American flags. By contrast, at Columbia, we had Martyrs Day on Veterans Day. It's crazy. Advertisement Here in New York, it feels like everyone hates each other. In Ukraine you have a full spectrum of individuals and yet somehow they're all united. We need a lot more of that. In America, we have this feeling of 'Oppression Olympics,' but the Ukrainians in no way want to be pitied. Sure, the people want and need support, but they're not playing the victim game. 4 Nahins alleges he was called a 'baby killer' by fellow students. Courtesy of Sam Nahins Advertisement My experience felt sobering: Ukrainians love America more than Americans. They joke, 'Where is your Iraqi scarf?' They know how ridiculous Columbia is. I'm not giving up on my school or city – and definitely not my country. But I feel very unwanted here. Before I left Ukraine, I put my resume out there, and was offered three jobs for non-military positions. I'm still deciding whether to go back.
