On Monday, President Donald Trump attacked worries about rogue AI, saying that any attempts to restrict the technology are a part of a “SICK conspiracy.”
Trump wrote on social media, “AI taking over the world, destroying humanity, and all other bad things is a HOAX.” He later implied that individuals advocating for restrictions on the technology had also warned about climate change, which he also referred to as a hoax.
The president was resisting proposals for more government control over AI made by tech executives, including Dario Amodei of Anthropic, Sam Altman of OpenAI, and Elon Musk of SpaceX AI.
Following a string of cyberattacks in recent months that have shown AI agents may plot to trick humans, the quickly developing technology has become a topic of debate.
In general, many tech leaders state that their objective is to develop technology in a way that advances science, protects national security, addresses legal liability, fosters economic growth, and promotes safety.
However, they have also voiced worries that an AI free from human oversight might be harmful, a position that Trump refuted in a string of contentious social media tweets while claiming to be the “Hoax Buster.”
Trump insisted that any concerns over AI should be allayed by his presence in the Oval Office.
“The United States of America has a strong and intelligent (high IQ!) president, which is the only control or “guardrails” that AI needs!” Trump made a post.
In particular, Trump claimed that his administration has previously prevented Anthropic, an AI business, “from doing bad, or potentially bad” things.
With the Pentagon attempting to classify Anthropic as a security threat and the government temporarily banning one of its more sophisticated models, the company has had a tense relationship with the Trump administration.
“When, in the History of Business, did anyone see the leaders of an industry call for regulation that, if strongly implemented, will drive them into oblivion and bankruptcy?” Trump wrote on social media, criticizing the business acumen of the internet CEOs requesting government control.
Trump’s reluctance to regulate coincides with threats being warned by AI executives.
In a 3,800-word essay released on Saturday, Anthropic CEO Amodei advocated for a slower pace of AI development.
Microsoft released its own code of conduct on Monday to guarantee that AI is under human supervision.
The moves follow the July 2026 hack on the AI startup Hugging Face by OpenAI models and several cautions from AI specialists over the potential of the technologies.
Amodei highlighted the cyberattack by a swarm of OpenAI agents and “AI’s growing ability to build the next generation of AI” as reasons to slow development.
Amodei added, “Given the accelerating rate of AI capability development, I worry that in 6–12 months such a swarm could be capable of taking over the entire internet.” The damages could reach hundreds of billions of dollars or more “without the necessary guardrails.”
In a social media post over the weekend, Altman of OpenAI echoed that viewpoint.
OpenAI’s Sam Altman emphasized that taking a measured approach to development is vital, noting that national competition should never excuse reckless behavior or allow AI capabilities to outpace safety and monitoring systems.
He added that the primary area where government assistance is needed is in fostering international cooperation.
Last week, Altman met with Trump on the sidelines of the Republican midterm convention in Dallas.
Meanwhile, Trump has found an ally in Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who views current AI risks as exaggerated.
During a podcast recording on Monday, Trump phoned Huang, who put the president on speakerphone.
According to social media posts and videos of the exchange, both men agreed that the public anxiety surrounding AI is excessive.
President Trump opposes AI regulation, arguing that restricting the technology would allow China to surpass the United States.
He expressed this view sharply, claiming that opposition to AI and data centers is part of a harmful conspiracy that ultimately benefits China.
This stance aligns with his long-standing resistance to government oversight and his “I alone can fix it” philosophy.
After returning to office, Trump revoked a Biden-era executive order on AI safety, waiting more than 16 months before issuing his own framework this past June.
While concerns over a slower AI rollout caused stocks to dip due to fears of reduced demand for chips and construction materials, Trump’s opposition also comes amidst mounting political pressure.
Ahead of the November midterm elections, AI has become a liability, with voters pushing back against new data center construction and voicing concerns over job losses and AI’s impact on children’s education.
House Speaker Mike Johnson announced on Monday that President Trump is expected to host a meeting with AI companies at the White House in the coming weeks, though an exact date has not yet been set.
Johnson explained that the upcoming discussions will focus on the private sector’s responsibility to maintain safety standards and evaluate what role, if any, the government should have.
He cautioned that legislative bodies often overreact with excessive red tape and hyper-regulation, warning that losing the competitive race in AI would pose a major threat to national security.
President Trump’s approach to AI has become a central issue for the upcoming midterm elections, giving Democrats a clear political opening.
Democratic lawmakers and candidates argue that regulation is urgently needed to address the risks of job losses, growing economic inequality, and surging electricity bills, with House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries declaring that Congress must act immediately.
Critics have sharply attacked the administration’s hands-off stance; former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel compared the current lack of AI oversight to driving down a dark, dangerous road without headlights while the president has “nodded off.”
In response, the Trump administration has downplayed these warnings.
Trump defended his position on social media, claiming that safety concerns only arise because the U.S. is heavily dominating the global field and warning critics not to “kill the Golden Goose.”
The administration continues to view the AI expansion as a primary driver of economic growth and productivity during Trump’s second term.
Vice President JD Vance dismissed public anxiety about AI, saying Americans should not fear the technology.
Speaking before a midterm campaign trip to Kansas, Vance emphasized that while the administration is attentive to AI, any regulatory approach must be highly strategic, particularly since the United States is locked in an intense AI arms race with China.
Furthermore, Vance expressed skepticism about tech industry leaders lobbying for government oversight.
He remarked that it feels unusual for frontier AI companies to actively beg for regulation, suggesting their motivations could act as a “Trojan horse” and warning that the government must proceed with caution.
