News24 | Trump slams AI regulation as ‘sick conspiracy’, says US must beat China

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks as US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump listen during a dinner at the State Dining Room of the White House on 4 September 2025 in Washington, DC.

Alex Wong/Getty Images

• President Trump rejected calls for AI regulation, calling them part of a “sick conspiracy” and insisting the US must maintain its lead over China.
• He attacked Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, who had urged firms to slow AI development, and said the only guardrails AI needed were a strong president.
• Trump’s stance puts him at odds with tech leaders including Amodei, OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Elon Musk, who have warned about the technology’s dangers.
  

US President Donald Trump on Monday attacked what he called a “sick conspiracy” against artificial intelligence, rejecting calls for regulation amid mounting worries that the technology threatens humankind.

Trump said the United States needed to keep the lead on AI to beat superpower rival China and slammed the boss of Claude-maker Anthropic, who had called for a slowdown.

“The only control or ‘guardrails’ that AI needs is a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT, and the U.S.A. has that, in spades!” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social network.

Trump has pushed back repeatedly in the past week against a tide of warnings from tech bosses on the dangers of AI, saying US regulation would give rival Beijing the advantage.

“There is a SICK conspiracy going on against AI and Data Centers, and the only one that is happy about it is China,” Trump added in his post.

“WHOEVER WINS AI, WINS! We are leading China, and all others, and will continue to do so. Conspiracy Theorists, Treasonists, Traitors, and Leakers, BEWARE!”

READ | US urges hands-off approach to AI regulation at G20 tech meeting

Trump also attacked Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, who on Saturday called on firms to slow down the development of AI and was backed by OpenAI boss Sam Altman and Elon Musk.

“The Trump Administration has stopped AI ‘people’ from doing bad, or potentially bad, ‘things,’ like Dario (Anthropic!), who is now pretending to be a ‘perfect little angel’,” the US president wrote.

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Trump was asked repeatedly about the threat from AI during a weekend trip to Ireland but rejected calls for regulation.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said he had heard directly from tech insiders the previous week on the issue.

Asked if he was downplaying their concerns he said: “No we are not downplaying but you know it’s going to be more good than bad by a lot.”