Trump Rejects AI Regulation, Claims ‘Sick Conspiracy’ Helps China

Trump Rejects AI Oversight and Calls Warnings a Hoax

President Trump argued on social media that proposals to rein in artificial intelligence would only damage American competitiveness and aid China. “There is a SICK conspiracy going on against AI and Data Centers, and the only one that is happy about it is China,” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The president asserted that his administration already holds sufficient regulatory and criminal power over tech firms. He maintained that fears of technology destroying humanity are entirely unfounded, writing that “AI taking over the World, destroying Humanity, and all other things bad, is a HOAX.” Furthermore, Mr. Trump stated that the only control the sector needs is a “STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT,” asserting that the United States currently has that leadership in spades.

Clash With Anthropic CEO Over Safety Proposals

Mr. Trump specifically targeted Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, accusing him of pretending to be a “perfect little angel.” Over the weekend, Mr. Amodei published a 3,800-word essay outlining a three-step proposal to pace AI development. His plan calls for embedding independent evaluators inside AI companies to monitor risks and prevent systems from developing unchecked capabilities.

The Anthropic chief warned that within six to 12 months, advanced AI agents could possess the capability to take over the entire internet and cause hundreds of billions of dollars in damage. Those proposals quickly won endorsements from Elon Musk, who runs xAI, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. However, Mr. Trump contended that his administration had previously stopped Mr. Amodei from doing “bad, or potentially bad” things, referencing past friction between the federal government and the AI firm.

Following that dispute, Mr. Trump ordered federal agencies to cut ties with Anthropic, and the Pentagon designated the company a supply-chain risk.

Rising Public Backlash and Political Divisions

Artificial intelligence is rapidly turning into a major election issue ahead of the US midterms in November. Voters across the country are expressing growing concern over the rapid construction of massive data centers in local communities, leading to local voter revolts. For instance, veteran Loretta Thornton found her home neighboring America’s largest data center, built by Elon Musk.

Despite public anxiety, both major political parties lack unified policy platforms regarding the technology. While a bipartisan safety bill backed by Republican Senate Leader John Thune and Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar sits under negotiation in the Senate, meaningful congressional action appears unlikely before the midterms. Meanwhile, Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Greg Casar have proposed legislation to ban AI systems that surpass human intelligence until a formal regulatory body is established.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is President Trump opposed to regulating artificial intelligence?

Mr. Trump argues that federal oversight and strict regulations are unnecessary and would ultimately hinder American competitiveness, allowing China to pull ahead in the global AI race.

What did Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei propose in his essay?

Mr. Amodei proposed a three-step framework to slow and pace AI development, which includes placing independent evaluators inside artificial intelligence companies to monitor internal safety work.

How is AI impacting the upcoming US midterms?

The technology is emerging as a significant electoral issue due to voter backlash against data center construction in local neighborhoods and mounting concerns over risks posed by the technology.