On Sunday, President Trump used his Truth Social account to reveal that Jay Clayton—the newly confirmed Director of National Intelligence—will also serve as the administration’s artificial intelligence czar. In a brief post, the president said Clayton will head the “Super Intelligence Force,” a task-force meant to keep the United States at the forefront of what Trump calls “super intelligence.” The announcement came just days after Clayton testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee on July 15, 2026, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Clayton’s new mandate and the composition of the Super Intelligence Force
According to Trump’s statement, the Super Intelligence Force will “coordinate the Federal Government’s engagement with consumers, public interest groups, religious organizations, critical infrastructure providers, and super intelligence companies.” The president also listed three senior officials who will sit on the team: Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew FergusonOffice of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor and Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Emil Michael. Together, they are expected to shape policy, oversee safety reviews, and guide the deployment of advanced AI technologies across federal agencies.
Industry reaction and the regulatory backdrop
Trump’s move arrives amid growing alarm from leading technologists who warn that rapid AI advancement could become uncontrollable. Yet the president has downplayed those concerns, portraying the new force as a proactive safeguard rather than a pause. In a CNBC interview last month, Clayton labeled super intelligence a “national security issue” and rejected calls for a development halt, noting that rival nations continue to push forward. He warned, “I don’t think any American should think that’s a good strategy.”
On the same day as the announcement, Trump met with several AI executives at the White House. He later claimed those companies signed a voluntary accord committing to internal and external reviews of their AI work. In parallel, the administration rolled out a refreshed government portal, America.gov which advertises that its content is sourced via AI from official government records.
Previous AI-related appointments and the broader policy context
The Trump administration’s focus on AI is not new. In December 2024, the president-elect announced David Sacks a Silicon Valley investor, as an AI and crypto czar tasked with advising on technology policy. Earlier this year, Sacks stepped down from that role to become co-chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. He has publicly supported the warnings of AI leaders such as Sam Altman and Dario Amodei, advocating for a measured pace of development. Last month, Sacks posted that tech leaders should “stop pretending you need anyone else’s permission” to curb risky AI projects.
Despite these high-level appointments, the United States still lacks comprehensive federal AI legislation. Congress has not passed broad statutes regulating AI creation or use, leaving most oversight to sector-specific rules. Some states—California among them—have enacted transparency requirements for entities that employ AI, but a unified national framework remains absent.
Clayton’s dual role as Director of National Intelligence and AI czar places him at the intersection of security and technology. His prior experience includes serving as United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and chairing the Securities and Exchange Commission. Whether his leadership will translate into concrete regulatory measures or merely a coordination office remains to be seen, but the formation of the Super Intelligence Force signals a decisive federal push into the AI arena.
