Jay Clayton testifies during a Senate Intelligence Committee confirmation hearing to be the next Director of National Intelligence on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, July 15, 2026, in Washington.
Mariam Zuhaib/AP
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Mariam Zuhaib/AP
Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton is the new AI czar in the White House, President Trump said Sunday.
Triumph wrote in Truth Social that Clayton will head the White House’s new “Super Intelligence Force,” a group that will “ensure that the United States continues to lead the world in Super Intelligence.”
Trump prefers the term “super intelligence” to “artificial intelligence.” He said his “Super Intelligence Force” will “coordinate the Federal Government’s engagement with consumers, public interest groups, faith-based organizations, critical infrastructure providers and super intelligence companies.”
Before being confirmed earlier this year to head national intelligence, Clayton was U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Trump’s announcement continues various statements alarm from technology leaders about the risks in the rapid development of AI, including the fact that it could become rogue. Trump has largely left aside warnings and attempted to reframe concerns around AI.
On Tuesday, Trump met with AI executives at the White House and he said later that leaders of several artificial intelligence companies had signed a voluntary agreement that will include internal and external reviews of their work.
Meanwhile, the White House also launched a revamped government website this week. America.govwhich says it is obtained through artificial intelligence from “official government sources.”
In his social media post, Trump also named other members of his “Super Intelligence Force.” He said it will include Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson, Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor and Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Emil Michael.
It’s unclear what Clayton’s appointment as AI czar means for the AI industry, as current regulation of artificial intelligence by the US government is limited. Congress has not passed a federal law that broadly regulates the use or development of AI. Some states, including California, have enacted AI measures, including requiring entities to be transparent when used.
During an interview with CNBC last month, Clayton called superintelligence a “national security issue.” He also rejected calls for a “pause” in developing the technology, noting that other countries around the world continue to develop AI. “I don’t think any American should think that’s a good strategy,” he said.
In December 2024, President-elect Trump announced that name David Sacks, a Silicon Valley investor, as an AI and cryptocurrency czartasked with advising the administration on policies related to AI.
Earlier this year, Sacks resigned from his position and became co-chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. He has backed warnings from AI leaders Sam Altman and Dario Amodei about the technology and the idea of a “slowdown” in AI development. Last month, Sacks wrote on social media that tech leaders should “stop pretending they need someone else’s permission” to make such moves.
