President Donald Trump announced Saturday that he’s forming a new “AI force” to oversee the development of artificial intelligence — just days after dismissing concerns about the potential threat posed by the cutting-edge technology as a “hoax” and saying he provided all the necessary guardrails.
In a social media post, the president said, “We will not in any way hinder or stifle the Growth of this incredible Industry. Rather, we will cherish it, help it, and watch over it, as it grows!”
“For this purpose, I am forming the AI Force, much like I did Space Force, which has been a tremendous SUCCESS, in my First Term,” he wrote. “To that end, I will be announcing, in the near future, the AI ‘Czar’ — Only High I.Q. individuals need apply!”
Venture capitalist David Sacks served as Trump’s AI and crypto czar until March, when he told Bloomberg he had “used up” his 130 days as a special government employee and was joining the new President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
In his post, Trump listed a series of other “hoaxes” he blamed on “Radical Left” Democrats and said “they are going straight at AI” after industry insiders went public with fears that it could lead to the end of humanity within the next 10 years, leading to calls for government regulation of the industry.
“And I, as President of the United States, will not stand by and let this happen,” Trump said. “AI is the next Industrial Revolution, or Internet, but will be even larger and more impactful, possibly as much as 25% of our Country’s GDP. We are leading China, and the rest of the World, and I intend to keep it that way!”
Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts quickly responded to Trump’s comments, saying on social media, “Congress cannot meet the pressing threat of AI by just forming another committee or continuing to have drawn-out discussions about it.”
“Let's actually pass some meaningful regulations on AI to protect people,” she added.
Trump’s surprise move came less than two months before the crucial midterm elections over control of Congress, where Republicans hold majorities in both the House and Senate.
It also followed recent polls that showed majorities of Americans were unhappy with Trump's handling of AI, with a Tuesday YouGov survey finding that 55 percent said they disapproved of his efforts, including 44 percent who disapproved “strongly.”
The latest University of Massachusetts Amherst Poll produced similar results Monday, with 57 percent of those surveyed saying he hasn't handled the issue well and 43 percent saying he's doing “not well at all,” up from 36 percent in March.
Earlier Saturday, Trump floated potential replacement terms for AI in a social media post that marked the latest example of his apparently never-ending desire to rename things.
“Many people think that the words ‘Artificial Intelligence’ are inaccurate, and very ineloquent, relative to AI, or Artificial Intelligence,” the president wrote. “A far more elegant and accurate description of this new phenomena would be Superior Intelligence (SI) or, Extreme Intelligence (EI) or, Supreme Intelligence (SI).”
The president also asked his 13.1 million followers to weigh in, saying: "This is a Poll, and I would appreciate everybody voting! Which is the best name for this ever growing ‘Revolution?’”
Social media critics who weighed in on Trump's post Saturday included one who said, “Just when you think Trump can’t think of anything more stupid to do……” and emphasized the message with a clown-face emoji.
Another said, “At least he didnt try to call it ‘Trump Think,’” before adding, “Guess that would be an oxymoron though.”
Trump has embarked on an unprecedented renaming spree since returning to the White House last year.
It began with an executive order titled “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness,” issued the same day as his second inauguration.
It reversed President Barack Obama's decision to rename Alaska's Mount McKinley as Denali, the name given by Native Alaskans.
The order also renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, triggering a legal battle with The Associated Press when Trump cut the news organization's access to the Oval Office and Air Force One for refusing to adopt his preferred name for the international body of water.
Another court case was sparked by the December 2025 addition of Trump's name to the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, which a federal judge ruled was illegal because only Congress had the legal authority to change the venue's name.
The building was closed for renovations earlier this week, and Trump has said they won't proceed unless he gets his name on the building afterward.
Thousands of protesters gathered there Friday following publication of a news photo of Trump inside Air Force One, looking at a placard that said “Kennedy Center DEMOLIS...” with the rest of the word obscured by the fuselage around the plane's windows.
Trump's name has also been added to the U.S. Institute of Peace, and the federal government's TrumpRx website for buying prescription drugs, Trump Accounts investment program for American children, and Trump Gold Card, which expedites review of a visa application for a $1 million “contribution” to the government and a $15,000 “processing fee.”
In addition, the president has renamed Lake Ontario as Lake America as part of his ongoing trade war with Canada, and he's also suggested renaming New Mexico as New America and offering so-called Trump Dividends of $5,000 each to every American adult if the GOP retains control of both chambers of Congress.
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