Trump is expected to name Jay Clayton as AI czar
By Alayna Treene, Hadas Gold, CNN
(CNN) — President Donald Trump is expected to pick Jay Clayton to be the White House’s new czar of artificial intelligence, two sources familiar with the discussion told CNN.
The president could announce his decision about Clayton, who is director of national intelligence, as early as Friday, one of the sources said.
Trump announced last month that he was planning to create an “AI Force” and name an AI czar as the government faces growing calls to impose guardrails on the technology’s rapid development.
Trump gathered several AI and technology CEOs at the White House on Tuesday for a meeting that culminated in the signing of a new commitment aimed at better “self-policing” their companies’ AI models.
Trump previously told Axios that Clayton would be a good AI czar. CBS News first reported that Clayton was the frontrunner for the position.
A White House official told CNN, “Any personnel announcement will be announced directly by the President. Any reporting until then is baseless speculation.”
Clayton, who previously served as the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan and led the Securities and Exchange Commission during the majority of Trump’s first term, is expected to remain in his role as director of national intelligence, the sources said.
He was confirmed by the Senate in July to lead the US intelligence community. Clayton succeeded Bill Pulte, a controversial housing executive with no national security experience whom Trump installed as acting director for a 40-day tenure.
When asked about AI during his confirmation hearing, Clayton said the technology is a “game changer” and that it’s “not only an opportunity but a threat.”
“When something’s both an opportunity and a threat, you better get your arms around it,” Clayton said.
Venture capitalist David Sacks previously served as Trump’s AI and cryptocurrency czar until March 2026, when he stepped down after reaching his time limit as a special government employee. He now co-chairs the president’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
Sacks has continued to have considerable influence on the president when it comes to AI issues.
On Tuesday, Trump told reporters that he was “very close to making a decision,” regarding his pick for the role. “I’ll be naming one, I’d say, over the next three or four days.”
Trump added that he first wanted to check with “the companies” as well as House GOP leadership in Congress before making his decision.
The president has made clear that he considers outpacing China and preserving AI-driven economic gains a higher priority than addressing growing public concerns, and previously referred to fears over AI as being a “hoax.”
The-CNN-Wire
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