President Donald Trump announced Saturday his intent to create an "AI Force" and appoint an "AI czar," positioning his administration on the deregulation side of a widening Capitol Hill divide over how to govern artificial intelligence.
Trump shared his plans on Truth Social, saying he would form the AI Force "much like I did Space Force, which has been a tremendous success, in my First Term." He said the AI czar would be announced "in the near future" and that "Only High I.Q. individuals need apply."
The Space Force, established by Trump in 2019, was the first new U.S. military service branch since 1947. The White House has not said whether the proposed AI Force would operate as a military branch or what specific duties the czar would hold.
Trump dismissed fears about AI as a "hoax" and a "SICK conspiracy," pledging that his administration "will not in any way hinder or stifle the growth of this incredible industry." He framed the stakes in geopolitical terms, saying the U.S. must outpace China and protect the economic gains already flowing from AI development. "We are leading China, and the rest of the world, and I intend to keep it that way," he said.
He did acknowledge some risks. "We will also be looking for bad, and we can do that, very easily, with our already existing criminal and civil justice system," Trump said, suggesting existing law would suffice.
Democrats are taking the opposite tack. Former President Barack Obama on Friday urged potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidates to make AI regulation central to their campaigns. Speaking at Colgate University, Obama said it was positive that some leading AI companies had called for slowing development. "Government has to be regulating this" as a long-term solution, he said, while acknowledging that some on the left oppose corporate self-regulation.
The rapid expansion of AI has driven significant stock market gains and boosted the manufacturing sector through data center construction. Trump calls these facilities "the golden goose." But public concern is shifting, with growing fears that AI will displace workers and that data centers will burden local communities.
The new czar appointment comes after venture capitalist David Sacks departed the role of Trump's AI and cryptocurrency czar in March. Sacks reached his time limit as a special government employee and now chairs the President's Council.
