Trump Delays AI Executive Order, Says US Must Maintain Edge Over China

US President Donald Trump has delayed a planned executive order on artificial intelligence just hours before it was scheduled to be signed, saying he does not want new regulations to slow America’s leadership in the global AI race.

The White House had reportedly prepared an Oval Office event involving major technology executives before Trump decided to put the order on hold. According to reports, the proposed framework aimed to establish a government review system for evaluating national security risks linked to advanced AI technologies before their public release.

The plan was expected to function through voluntary cooperation between the US government and leading artificial intelligence companies, including OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic.

Speaking to reporters, Trump stressed that the United States currently leads the world in AI development and should avoid policies that could weaken its competitive position against China.

The decision comes amid increasing concerns in Washington over the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence systems, particularly their ability to identify cybersecurity vulnerabilities in financial systems and critical infrastructure.

Earlier this year, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reportedly met with top Wall Street executives to discuss cybersecurity threats associated with advanced AI models, including Anthropic’s Claude Mythos system.

The Trump administration has consistently promoted artificial intelligence as a major engine of economic growth and an essential strategic tool in the technological rivalry with China. At the same time, policymakers continue to face mounting pressure over concerns related to job losses, privacy, cybersecurity risks and energy consumption linked to AI expansion.

The debate has also exposed divisions within political circles in the United States, including among Republicans, over how aggressively the fast-growing AI sector should be regulated.

Complicating matters further, the administration remains involved in an ongoing dispute with Anthropic. Earlier this year, Trump directed federal agencies to stop using the company’s Claude chatbot following tensions between the Pentagon and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei.

Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance said the administration is attempting to strike a balance between encouraging innovation and ensuring public safety as the AI industry continues to expand rapidly.