Donald Trump is forming a new “AI Force” and appointing an AI czar, but he says he will “cherish” and “watch over” the industry rather than regulate it — and he is calling fears about AI a “hoax.”
The announcement came amid warnings from top tech leaders about the dangers of AI. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei published a blog post last week calling for a slower pace of AI development. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, said his company would also welcome a slower pace to ensure AI capabilities do not “get ahead of alignment and monitoring.”
Trump’s response was blunt. He wrote, “we will not in any way hinder or stifle the Growth of this incredible Industry” and added, “rather, we will cherish it, help it, and watch over it, as it grows!” The announcement includes several specific commitments, including the appointment of an AI czar, and Trump’s comparison to Space Force. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
AI Force Compared to Space Force
Trump likened the new force to Space Force, which was created during his first term. The comparison is notable because Space Force became a sixth branch of the U.S. Armed Forces in 2020 after an act of Congress.
The White House’s statement about the AI Force draws a direct parallel between the two. Trump’s framing of the AI Force as something to be cherished and watched over mirrors the way he described Space Force — as a forward-looking, growth-oriented military entity.
The announcement includes several specific commitments. Trump wrote that the U.S. can identify “BAD” through its already existing criminal and civil justice system.
It is unclear what the “AI Force” would be tasked with doing. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The “Hoax” Post
Trump’s announcement came with the same tone he has used before. He called AI fears a “hoax” in his post. He also wrote that there was a “SICK conspiracy” going on around AI.
The White House’s approach to the issue has been consistent. Trump’s science and technology council co-chair, David Sacks, said at a Politico conference that existing regulations were sufficient for AI.
“I think the starting point for talking about AI regulation is to realize the regulations that we already have,” Sacks said.
Sacks previously served as the White House’s former AI and crypto czar until stepping down in March.
Who Is Calling for Slowdown
Amodei’s blog post made the case for a slower pace of AI development. Altman echoed that view, saying OpenAI would welcome a slower pace to ensure AI capabilities do not “get ahead of alignment and monitoring.”
The CEOs are not alone in their concerns. Concerns from Silicon Valley and beyond have grown about the rapid pace of AI development.
The Existing Infrastructure
Trump’s plan leans heavily on the criminal and civil justice system to identify “BAD.” He wrote that the U.S. can do that “very easily” with its already existing criminal and civil justice system.
The reliance on existing systems is a notable choice. Rather than building a new regulatory apparatus, Trump is pointing to the legal system as the tool for oversight. He wrote that the U.S. can identify “BAD” through its already existing criminal and civil justice system.
The Reaction So Far
Amodei and Altman have both responded to the announcement. Both CEOs have called for a slower pace of AI development, and both have said their companies would welcome that approach.
What We Do Not Know
What will the AI Force do? Who will run it?
The announcement includes the appointment of an AI czar. The source does not say who will hold the position or what their responsibilities will be.
A Comparison of the Two Positions
| Position | Commitment | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Trump’s AI Force | Cherish and watch over AI | “We will cherish it, help it, and watch over it, as it grows!” |
| CEOs’ Slowdown | Call for a slower pace of AI development | Published blog post and statement |
The Verdict
Trump is forming a new AI force and appointing a czar while rejecting new regulation and leaning on existing law. The announcement matches the paper’s long-standing support for a light touch on technology and enterprise.
The announcement is a statement of intent.
Where the paper stands
The paper backs a light touch on AI regulation so startups are not frozen out, and is against broad federal licensing rules that would lock today’s leaders in place and let giants hide their failures — a position that puts it against both Trump’s stated hands-off approach and the pause calls made by Anthropic’s Amodei and OpenAI’s Altman.
The paper opposes broad new rulebooks that only the biggest firms can afford. When the biggest firms ask to be regulated, the paper asks who those rules would lock out: licensing regimes and compliance costs only giants can afford are a moat, not a safeguard.
Trump’s approach may avoid building an entirely new apparatus, but it also leaves AI oversight entirely to the criminal and civil justice system — an approach that may not protect consumers or businesses from harm. The paper’s position is clear: narrow rules against direct harm, not broad ones that hand the market to the incumbents.
Source material: “Trump says he will form new 'AI Force' but continues to call AI fears a 'hoax',” ABC News.
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