Trump Names AI Czar And Sets 120-Day Clock
Jay Clayton, the Director of National Intelligence, was selected by President Trump to lead as the new artificial-intelligence czar. A 120-day deadline was set by him for Clayton to outline the benefits and drawbacks of the technology. This group is called the Super Intelligence Force. The position reports directly to Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and the president.
The goal is simple. Trump wants America to stay ahead of every other nation. He has called for rebranding AI as superintelligence, or SI. He announced this new force on Sunday via a post on Truth Social.
Clayton will share leadership with FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson and other top officials. The task force includes Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Outside advisers include former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and former AI czar David Sacks. The group's job is to design defenses against threats while blocking heavy rules that could hurt competition.
Demands for restricting the technology have been dismissed by Trump. He cautions that slowing progress would cede an advantage to China. The Daily Caller reported that Trump named a voluntary deal the White House Accord on Super Intelligence after a recent summit.
Clayton explained his new role to the Wall Street Journal. Stating the president requested a group to ensure leadership in superintelligence and prioritize American interests, he added, "The president asked that a group be put together that was going to ensure exactly what he said … [that] we stay the leaders in superintelligence and that the interests of the American people are put first". He told the outlet, "The risk of not being first is high."
Clayton observed that failing to be first heightens known and unknown risks, especially from adversaries. Addressing those risks for the American people will be more feasible if we achieve first-mover status.
This is not about stopping progress. It is about controlling it. Trump declared, "I will never stifle the growth of technology that will be bigger than the industrial revolution". The new force will coordinate the government's work with big tech companies and public interest groups.
Some critics want more rules. This group says the rules should not block growth. In an interview with the Journal, Clayton said, "I expect there will be mechanisms developed in dialogue, just like there are in other industries". The charter instructs the group to block industry capture that could hobble competition.
“I am announcing the formation of the Super Intelligence Force (SIF). The Super Intelligence Force is tasked with coordinating the effort of the Federal Government to ensure that America continues to lead the World in Super Intelligence, which many say is bigger than the Industrial Revolution, and the Internet, and will protect the interests, and improve the lives, of all Americans.” - President DONALD J. TRUMP 🇺🇸
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 4, 2026
This rollout comes after a meeting last month where leading AI firms agreed to voluntary principles. New York Post reported that Trump is resisting pressure to throttle AI development. The force will ensure America leads the world in this new era.
Following last week's major AI summit attended by numerous tech moguls, Trump announced the creation of the force. According to RedState, the President stated the group "will protect the interests, and improve the lives, of all Americans".