Trump Names Jay Clayton as White House AI Czar

President Donald Trump has named Jay Clayton, the Director of National Intelligence, as the new White House AI czar. Clayton will oversee the newly created “Super Intelligence Force,” a group tasked with ensuring U.S. leadership in super intelligence. The force will coordinate federal engagement with various stakeholders, including consumers, public interest groups, and super intelligence companies. Other members include Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson, Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor, and Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Emil Michael.

Before his current role, Clayton served as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and chaired the Securities and Exchange Commission during Trump’s first term. He has described AI as both an opportunity and a threat, emphasizing the need for proactive management. In a recent CNBC interview, he dismissed calls to pause AI development, calling it a “national security issue.” Sen. Mark Warner welcomed the appointment but criticized the administration’s lack of meaningful AI safeguards.

Trump first established a combined AI and cryptocurrency czar position in January 2025, appointing venture capitalist David Sacks. Sacks served until March 2026, after which he joined the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. The latest appointment follows a voluntary accord signed by Trump and six AI executives, committing to internal and external reviews of their work. However, Congress has yet to pass comprehensive federal AI regulations.