Trump Dismisses AI Safety Fears as a ‘Hoax,’ Rejects Calls for Tighter Safeguards

U.S. President Donald Trump has rejected growing calls for stronger government oversight of artificial intelligence, describing concerns about the technology’s potential dangers as a “hoax” and arguing that excessive regulation could weaken America’s position in the global AI race.

Trump made the comments as prominent technology executives and AI researchers increased pressure on Washington to introduce additional safeguards for increasingly powerful AI systems.

Trump backs continued AI development

Trump has argued that the United States must continue advancing artificial intelligence to maintain its technological and economic advantage over China.

He said the U.S. already has mechanisms capable of dealing with companies that misuse AI and suggested that strong presidential leadership is sufficient to provide the necessary oversight.

The president has also warned that slowing AI development could allow China to gain an advantage in a technology he considers strategically important to the American economy and national security.

Tech leaders push for safeguards

Trump’s position comes amid growing warnings from some of the industry’s leading figures.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has called for regulations requiring independent safety assessments of the most advanced AI models. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and xAI founder Elon Musk have also expressed support for greater coordination and measures to reduce risks associated with rapidly developing AI technology.

Some lawmakers are now considering legislation that could require AI companies to demonstrate that they are taking reasonable steps to prevent their systems from causing serious harm.

Political debate intensifies

The issue is increasingly becoming a political divide in Washington. Democrats are pushing for stronger federal safeguards, while Trump and several senior Republicans have questioned whether government intervention would do more harm than good.

Vice President JD Vance has also expressed skepticism about technology companies asking the government to regulate their own industry, arguing that the motivation behind such requests deserves scrutiny.

The debate comes as concerns grow over AI’s potential impact on cybersecurity, employment, misinformation and national security, alongside longer-term fears about highly autonomous systems.

For now, the Trump administration appears determined to prioritize rapid AI development and competition with China rather than impose broad new federal restrictions, setting the stage for a major policy battle in Washington over how much control governments should have over the technology.