Trump says negative forces hyping AI fears, vows to keep US ahead of China amid calls for industry slowdown

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday (September 13, 2026) likened critics of artificial intelligence ​to "very negative forces" bringing up scenarios that will not happen, and ⁠said he wanted to make sure that the U.S. remains the industry leader.

"We're leading China in AI. We're the most sophisticated country in the world, and frankly I want to keep it ‌that way because whoever wins AI wins," Mr. Trump told reporters at his Ireland golf course when asked if the AI industry should slow down or be ‌more regulated.

"We could put guardrails. We can do this and that. But ‌I think ⁠you have a lot of very negative forces that are bringing it ⁠up that shouldn't be bringing it up and they're bringing up things that won't happen."