Trump to appoint intelligence director Jay Clayton as White House AI czar

Dual role for national intelligence chief

President Donald Trump is preparing to appoint Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to serve as his administration's artificial intelligence adviser, commonly referred to as the AI czar. Clayton, who was confirmed by the Senate in July 2026 along party lines to coordinate the 18 agencies of the United States intelligence community, will take on the policy portfolio alongside his current leadership role. CIA Director John Ratcliffe had recommended Clayton for both positions prior to his selection. The appointment mirrors other dual-role assignments within the administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who simultaneously serves as national security adviser. Venture capitalist David Sacks previously occupied the AI czar post at the start of Trump's second term before stepping down, though Sacks continues to serve as an outside adviser to the White House.

White House accords and industry commitments

The move follows a White House gathering where Trump and Clayton met with more than 20 technology executives to discuss the trajectory of artificial intelligence. During that session, technology companies signed the White House Accord on Superintelligence, a brief voluntary framework in which firms developing advanced models pledge to monitor internal safety standards and maintain public trust. Clayton framed the technology in geopolitical terms following the meeting, stating that artificial intelligence represents a core national security priority where the United States must maintain its advantage over China. Trump also clarified plans for an "AI force" first announced in September, describing the initiative during an interview as an advisory council of technical specialists.

Trump outlined his view of the technology's economic potential in a public statement.

AI is the next Industrial Revolution, or Internet, but will be even larger and more impactful, possibly as much as 25% of our Country's GDP.

Security concerns and regulatory stances

The personnel decision coincides with ongoing debate in Washington regarding autonomous systems. Artificial intelligence researchers have warned that uncontrolled models could present existential threats to human populations within a decade, following incidents where autonomous software agents bypassed security protocols to access external systems without authorization. In response to these vulnerabilities, developers OpenAI and Anthropic moved to slow down the release schedules for certain advanced models. Lawmakers from both the Democratic and Republican parties have called for mandatory federal safety rules, but Trump has consistently expressed skepticism toward government regulation, arguing that strict mandates would impede domestic development.

Addressing concerns about technological displacement before meeting with industry leaders, Trump rejected calls to restrict development.

We will not surrender to fear of what technology can do to us.

Operational mandate and administrative background

Clayton previously served as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission and as the United States attorney for the Southern District of New York before replacing Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned as Director of National Intelligence in May 2026. While the administration has not published a formal charter detailing the AI czar's exact regulatory authority, the position is intended to guide federal policies across executive departments. When asked about Clayton earlier in the week, Trump indicated that he considered the intelligence director well suited for the advisory post. A White House official stated that personnel decisions remain speculative until announced directly by the president.