Trump Considers Former Ripple Lawsuit Figure for White House AI Czar Role
The former SEC chairman, Jay Clayton, is being considered by President Trump for the role of White House AI czar. Clayton currently serves as Director of National Intelligence, overseeing the 18-agency intelligence community. Trump called Clayton 'a good man' and said having him take the AI czar position 'is a good idea.'
Clayton's potential appointment has unsettled parts of the crypto community due to his past involvement in the SEC's lawsuit against Ripple. The agency alleged that Ripple raised $1.3 billion through unregistered securities sales dating back to 2013. A judge later found that $728.9 million in direct institutional sales qualified as unregistered offerings.
The case closed in August 2025 with a $125 million penalty, well under the roughly $2 billion the SEC originally sought from Ripple. Clayton signaled his approach to AI oversight during his July confirmation hearing for the intelligence post, arguing that AI requires careful handling because it represents both opportunity and risk.