President Donald Trump announced plans to establish an AI Force and appoint an artificial intelligence czar, framing the move as a commitment to supporting industry growth. Trump posted the announcement on Truth Social on Saturday, modeling the proposed body after the Space Force, though he has not yet disclosed budget details, organizational structure, or candidates for the czar position.
Trump characterized recent backlash against AI as a hoax orchestrated by political opponents. He grouped concerns about AI alongside what he called other manufactured controversies, arguing that initial opposition focused on data centers but shifted to AI itself once communities began seeing economic benefits.
According to Trump, AI could eventually represent as much as 25% of U.S. gross domestic product, and he stated that the country leads China in AI development. He pledged that the government would support rather than hinder the industry while maintaining oversight for wrongdoing through existing criminal and civil law.
The czar position has remained vacant since March, when David Sacks departed the White House role overseeing AI and crypto policy. Sacks continues to advise Trump as co-chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
Trump specified one requirement for the czar appointment: "Only High I.Q. individuals need apply." He did not announce a timeline for the selection.
The announcement comes as safety researchers from major AI laboratories have issued warnings about potential risks. Members of OpenAI's Safety Oversight team, researchers from Google DeepMind, and staff from Anthropic have recently published concerns about AI safety and the need for regulatory oversight or coordinated development slowdowns.
