Their Hidden Ally in Trump’s Cabinet.
Secretary of Energy Chris Wright has a long history with Americans for Prosperity. In December 2023, Wright donated a six-figure sum to AFP Action, the Koch-backed Super PAC—just three days after it endorsed Nikki Haley over President Trump in the Republican primary.
Wright’s skepticism of Trump goes further back. At a 2016 Koch gathering in Colorado, he declared Trump a “terrible and truly awful choice,” adding that “we’re not going to give any money to support Donald Trump.” In a 2017 USA Today commentary, Wright lamented Trump’s inconsistent leadership: “We have maybe 10 months… to shrink the influence of the government in the economy. But with a president who seems unable to deliver a clear, consistent direction from the top… we are threading the needle.”
Meanwhile, Wright’s wife, Liz Wright, made multiple contributions to Haley’s campaign during the 2023-24 cycle, underscoring the family’s broader alignment with Haley-world politics.
So how did Wright end up leading the Department of Energy after Trump’s assertion that no Koch-world or Haley-world insiders would be appointed? Was it an oversight, a quid pro quo—or the sign of a deeper power shift? That question grew sharper today, with the sudden resignation of Trump’s own energy bulldog.
⸻
The OKLO Connection
Wright also sits on the board of OKLO—a Silicon Valley nuclear startup co-founded by Jacob DeWitte and financially supported by OpenAI’s Sam Altman. Sources suggest Altman and DeWitte are using Wright—and DOE—as a lever for influence, displacing Trump loyalists like Roger Jarrell in favor of allies like Tim Walsh.
Yet OKLO’s path has been plagued with setbacks:
- In January 2022, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) rejected OKLO’s Aurora reactor application, citing “significant information gaps” in safety and design documentation.
- Bloomberg described it as a “rare rejection” that left OKLO “scrambling to reassure investors and regulators that its ambitions were more than hype.”
- Reuters questioned whether OKLO could “survive regulatory scrutiny or deliver on aggressive timelines,” despite its Silicon Valley backing.
- Utility Dive called the rejection “a black eye for the industry,” warning that OKLO looked more like “pitch deck than power plant.”
To industry insiders, OKLO appears to be a high-profile gamble riding on hype rather than proven capability—raising concerns that its nuclear ambitions serve valuation more than national security.
⸻
Jarrell Out, Walsh In
Until today, Roger Jarrell was Trump’s bulldog on “energy dominance”—pro-coal, pro-nuclear, anti-regulation, and fiercely loyal to the President’s energy vision. That loyalty wasn’t enough. Jarrell was asked to resign today, a stunning move that blindsided many of Trump’s energy allies and signaled a decisive shift inside DOE.
Into the void steps Tim Walsh: polished, military veteran, megadonor, and Silicon Valley-ready. Yet politically, Walsh once branded Trump an “unfit con man” and the GOP as a “cult.” Not exactly the profile of a MAGA loyalist—yet now, he’s the figure being elevated in DOE circles.
⸻
DOE’s “Tech-Bro Mafia” and Political Pressure
DOE now increasingly reflects Silicon Valley sensibilities. The Nuclear Energy Dominance Council—meant to showcase traditional nuclear leadership—has instead become a stage for startup CEOs following Trump’s executive orders. Staffing includes OKLO affiliates, Altman allies, and other “tech-bro” profiles.
Compounding that, at a recent Senate oversight hearing, DOE attorney Seth Cohen remarked that NRC would likely “rubber-stamp” reactor approvals from DOE or the Defense Department. NRC Chair David Wright recounted the exchange: “Oh, well, y’all are basically going to put in a practice that’s going to sort of rubber-stamp what they do.”
This moment underscores dangerous political interference: an industry Trump esteems for both its economic value and inherent risks is now being shaped by tech-world influence and partisan pressure, not careful regulatory stewardship.
⸻
The Big Question
The contradictions are now undeniable:
- Trump promised no Koch or Haley insiders—yet Wright, tied to both, runs DOE.
- Trump’s most loyal bulldog, Roger Jarrell, was asked to resign today.
- Anti-Trump voices like Walsh are stepping into power.
- DOE’s agenda looks more Silicon Valley than America First.
- OKLO, scarred by NRC rejection and negative press, leans on AI hype to survive.
- NRC independence is being threatened by DOE insiders pressing for rubber-stamp approvals.
So the question isn’t abstract anymore—it’s immediate: Is Trump’s DOE still “America First,” or has it been hijacked by Koch donors and tech billionaires with shaky nuclear startups, while his own loyalists are shown the door?
The suspense isn’t if Trump notices—it’s what happens now that his bulldog is gone.
⸻
References
- FEC Filing: Wright’s donation to AFP Action, Dec 2023 — FEC Document
- Detroit News, July 2016 — Koch gathering remarks
- USA Today, June 2017 — Wright commentary on Trump
- FEC: Liz Wright contributions to Haley 2023–24 — FEC Database
- NRC January 2022 Letter to OKLO
- Bloomberg, Jan 2022 — OKLO rejection article
- Reuters, Feb 2022 — Report on OKLO’s regulatory challenge
- Utility Dive, Jan 2022 — OKLO reputation report
- E&E News, Sept 2025 — Seth Cohen’s “rubber-stamp” comments