President Donald Trump on Saturday forcefully defended the rapidly expanding artificial intelligence and data center industries, vowing that he will not allow political critics or regulatory oversight to cause the “decimation, or destruction” of the sector.
​In a series of statements posted to Truth Social on September 19, 2026, the President announced plans to establish a new federal body called the “AI Force” and confirmed he would soon name a white-house AI coordinator, or “AI Czar,” to oversee the technology’s integration while shielding its growth.
​”We will not in any way hinder or stifle the Growth of this incredible Industry. Rather, we will cherish it, help it, and watch over it, as it grows!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “However, we will also be looking for BAD, and we can do that, very easily, with our already existing Criminal and Civil Justice System.” ​
While specific organizational details remain sparse, the administration indicated that the new “AI Force” will focus on monitoring malicious actors without imposing sweeping regulatory limits on American developers.
The President stated the initiative would be tasked with “looking for BAD” actors and illegal misuse while relying on existing criminal and civil legal frameworks rather than enacting new restrictive guardrails.
Trump pledged to announce an “AI Czar” in the coming days to oversee federal coordination and streamline permitting for national infrastructure projects, including power grids and data centers.
The President touted AI as an unprecedented economic driver, suggesting the sector could eventually generate up to a quarter of the nation’s economic output. ​Trump’s stance marks a direct clash with both political opponents and several prominent AI industry executives who have recently called for cautious pacing. ​
Following recent essays and statements by Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman advocating for international safety coordination and alignment oversight, Trump dismissed claims of systemic risk, calling warnings about existential AI threats a “hoax” and a “SICK conspiracy” designed to hand the technological edge to foreign competitors like China. ​
The announcement also addresses mounting public skepticism and bipartisan pushback regarding energy consumption. Local communities across the U.S. have voiced concerns over the rapid construction of massive, energy-intensive data centers. ​
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) signaled support for the administration’s direction, telling reporters earlier in the week that excessive government red tape risks sacrificing America’s competitive edge.
Johnson noted that White House discussions with top tech executives are expected to take place in the coming weeks to discuss industry safety standards without stifling innovation.
