President Donald Trump on Monday rejected warnings from artificial intelligence executives that the technology poses an existential threat, calling such fears a “hoax” and arguing that heavy-handed regulation would put American companies at a competitive disadvantage against China.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “AI taking over the World, destroying Humanity, and all other things bad, is a HOAX.” He compared the warnings to what he called past political hoaxes, listing “RUSSIA, RUSSIA, RUSSIA,” “UKRAINE, UKRAINE, UKRAINE,” and two impeachment proceedings, which he attributed to what he termed the “Destructionists’ and Deviants’ foul play and illegal conduct.”
Trump argued that Chinese President Xi Jinping’s approach to AI development gives China an edge. “President Xi, of China, just announced that China will be doing absolutely nothing to stand in the way of AI, or its future,” Trump wrote. He added that Google is considering building a large plant in Finland because of permitting difficulties in the United States, saying, “I am not happy about this, and want them to change their thinking.”
Trump described AI and the data centers that support it as a potentially unmatched economic force. “AI, and Data Centers, will be the Greatest Economic Development Engine in History — Bigger than Oil, Gold, Diamonds, or even the Internet,” he wrote, adding that it “will not be stopped by brilliantly run Destructive Forces during the Term of President DONALD J. TRUMP!”
Response to industry warnings
Trump’s comments follow calls from AI industry leaders, including Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Elon Musk, for Washington to adopt stronger safeguards around the technology. Those executives have cited concerns over safety, accountability, economic disruption, scientific oversight, and national security.
On Sunday, Trump had already pushed back on those concerns, arguing that the country that leads in AI development will hold global dominance. In that post, he wrote:
The only control or “guardrails” that AI needs is a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT, and the U.S.A. has that, in spades! The Trump Administration has stopped AI “people” from doing bad, or potentially bad, “things,” like Dario (Anthropic!), who is now pretending to be a “perfect little angel” – and we will continue to do so! We already have tremendous CRIMINAL and REGULATORY power over these companies! There is a SICK conspiracy going on against AI and Data Centers, and the only one that is happy about it is China. WHOEVER WINS AI, WINS!
He closed that post by writing, “We are leading China, and all others, and will continue to do so. Conspiracy Theorists, Treasonists, Traitors, and Leakers, BEWARE! Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
You must be logged in to post a comment Login