Joe Manchin calls on Trump to freeze AI IPOs, claims president has 'power to save humanity'

Former Sen. Joe Machin, D-W.Va., called on President Donald Trump during a Monday appearance on CNBC's "Squawk Box" to use executive authority to pause new artificial intelligence IPOs until Congress passes legislation establishing safeguards for the rapidly developing technology.

Manchin framed the request as an urgent step to prevent companies developing advanced AI from facing additional pressure to race ahead before lawmakers establish rules governing the technology.

"The President of the United States has the power to save humanity," Manchin said. "They must be concerned about this thing can take off and think on its own and make its own decisions and override anything of humans and we can't stop it. If that's what they're concerned about, then stop it now when you can."

Former Sen. Joe Manchin called on President Trump to pause new AI IPOs until Congress establishes safeguards, saying the president has the "power to save humanity." (Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

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Republican National Committee member and Human First chairwoman Amy Kremer, who had previously called for AI safeguards while opposing a broad moratorium, pushed back on Machin's specific proposal, saying an IPO freeze would interfere with capital markets without addressing the underlying safety concerns.

"I do not support a President using executive authority to interfere with the markets," Kremer said in a Tuesday statement to Fox News Digital. An IPO freeze is the kind of top-down mandate that conservatives have long opposed, and it would not even address the actual risk."

"What the President should use his executive power for is to demand pre-deployment testing begin immediately. That is where the real safeguards belong, not in blocking companies from raising capital," she continued.

RNC member and Humans First chairwoman Amy Kremer told Fox News Digital she opposes an AI IPO freeze, calling it the wrong way to address the technology’s risks. (iStock)

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The White House, in a statement to Fox News Digital, pointed to three Truth Social posts from Trump addressing the growing debate over AI risks and efforts to slow the technology's development.

Trump separately rejected growing calls Monday for additional AI restrictions, arguing the United States should not give up its lead over China and saying existing government powers could be used against companies engaged in wrongdoing.

Trump said additional regulatory "guardrails" were not the answer to concerns surrounding the technology.

"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.

The White House pointed Fox News Digital to Trump’s recent AI posts as the president rejected additional "guardrails" and warned against slowing U.S. development while competing with China. (Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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The debate intensified after Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei called for frontier AI developers to slow the pace at which they increase the capabilities for their most powerful models.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Elon Musk were among the technology leaders who expressed support for slowing frontier development, while Trump and other Republicans warned that unilateral U.S. restrictions could benefit China.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., rejected an emergency AI moratorium on Sunday, telling CNN that Congress should work with AI companies to determine appropriate safeguards rather than abruptly halt development.

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Kremer told Fox News Digital that the escalating dispute also reflected what she views as Congress’ failure to establish clear federal AI rules before the technology reached its current stage.

"This moment is a reminder of what happens when Republicans do not govern," she said. "When Republicans fail to act, the solutions Democrats offer will be disastrous. Lawmakers have had years to establish clear rules for artificial intelligence, and they have not done it. The responsibility now falls on the executive branch to act where Congress will not."

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The Trump administration has already established a voluntary federal framework for evaluating advanced AI models. 

Trump's June executive order allows developers of covered frontier models to give the federal government secure early access before release for testing and cybersecurity purposes, while explicitly stating that the framework does not create mandatory federal licensing, pre-clearance or permitting requirements.

CJ Womack is an associate editor at Fox News.

CJ joined Fox News Digital's team in 2026, which highlights the vital role journalism plays in shaping politics and culture. He has years of experience analyzing and reporting on the news media.

CJ graduated from Long Beach State University in 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Journalism. 

You can send news tips to cj.womack@fox.com and follow CJ on Twitter.