Trump Flirts with Google Founder’s ‘MAGA Girlfriend’ as Melania Watches in Silence

Tech titans looked on as the president turned a policy dinner into a personal spectacle.

President Donald Trump turned a high-profile White House dinner into a reality show moment Thursday night when he publicly gushed over Google co-founder Sergey Brin’s girlfriend, Gerelyn Gilbert-Soto, in front of First Lady Melania Trump — leaving the room of tech titans caught between polite laughter and raised eyebrows.

The dinner, billed as a policy-driven summit with Silicon Valley leaders, quickly veered off-script when Trump singled out the 32-year-old administrative assistant seated next to Apple CEO Tim Cook and just steps from the president himself.

“Sergey, you were saying a lot in the Oval Office,” Trump said with a grin, gesturing toward Brin across the table. “I figured you’re somebody that likes to speak with his really wonderful MAGA girlfriend.”

According to attendees, the room went silent for a beat before nervous chuckles filled the State Dining Room. Gilbert-Soto raised her hands in celebration while Melania, seated to Trump’s left, smiled tightly.

Trump invited Brin and Gilbert-Soto to speak, but Brin deferred to his girlfriend.

“Well, babe, did you want to say something?” he asked her softly.

“Truly, every time I’m here in your presence, I’m so grateful, so thank you,” Gilbert-Soto said, her voice cracking slightly. “I can’t believe it every time — the inauguration, here. I think you’re doing amazing work.”

Trump basked in the compliment, flashing a wide grin. “Thank you very much,” he replied.

But the conversation quickly turned serious when Gilbert-Soto tried to bring up Venezuela, praising Trump’s hardline stance against President Nicolás Maduro. Before she could finish, Brin jumped in to control the narrative.

“You’re applying a lot of pressure to Maduro,” Brin said firmly. “And I think that’s phenomenal for an American president.”

Gilbert-Soto nodded enthusiastically: “Amazing.”

Gilbert-Soto has little public profile. Her sparse LinkedIn page lists her as an administrative assistant at Albion Castle, an events venue in San Francisco, a job she’s held since 2018.

Photos suggest she entered Brin’s orbit last year, appearing alongside him at red carpet events, including the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in March 2025.

Brin, 52, finalized his divorce from attorney Nicole Shanahan in 2023 after a widely publicized separation that followed her alleged brief affair with Tesla billionaire Elon Musk in 2021. Shanahan, who later used millions from the settlement to bankroll Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent presidential campaign, has remained a polarizing figure in Silicon Valley politics.

The event, initially planned for the Rose Garden but moved indoors due to rain, was packed with some of the world’s most influential figures.

To Trump’s right sat Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, while Apple’s Tim Cook sat next to Gilbert-Soto. Melania was flanked by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, who reportedly “smiled stiffly” through much of the exchange.

Nearby were OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and David Sacks, Trump’s controversial crypto czar and AI policy advisor.

“It was supposed to be about tech and infrastructure,” one attendee told Politico. “Instead, we got a sideshow about Sergey Brin’s girlfriend.”

Thursday’s dinner marked the administration’s latest attempt to mend strained ties with Silicon Valley after months of antitrust battles and AI regulation disputes. But critics say moments like this underscore how much Trump thrives on theatrics rather than substance.

“Trump uses these dinners to make everything about himself,” said political analyst Dr. Cara Jamison. “He doesn’t care if it’s awkward for Sergey Brin or Tim Cook — what matters is the applause and the cameras.”

For Democrats, the optics are striking: at a time when inflation remains stubborn, AI regulation lags, and tensions with Venezuela rise, Trump appeared more interested in charming a Google founder’s girlfriend than hashing out policy.