Get you up to speed: Trump says he’s postponing AI executive order “because I didn’t like what I was seeing”
President Trump postponed the signing of an executive order on artificial intelligence scheduled for Thursday afternoon, expressing concerns about its potential impact on the United States’ leadership in AI development. The decision was made during an unrelated event in the Oval Office, where he stated, “Because I didn’t like certain aspects of it, I postponed it.”
The executive order on artificial intelligence, initially set for signing on Thursday, has been postponed with no new date announced. The current draft reportedly includes provisions for securing Pentagon and federal civilian systems, as well as promoting voluntary engagement with AI developers regarding technology release.
President Trump announced the postponement of an executive order on artificial intelligence, stating he does not want to hinder the United States’ competitive lead in AI development. The delay raises questions about specific provisions that may have concerned him, as well as the future steps in the administration’s approach to AI, particularly regarding security measures for Pentagon systems and engagement with AI developers.
What remains unclear — It is not specified which provisions in the executive order draft President Trump believes could have stifled progress in AI development.
Trump postpones AI executive order citing concerns over its impact
Washington — President Trump on Thursday said he delayed the signing of an executive order on artificial intelligence expected that afternoon because he doesn’t want to “get in the way” of the United States leading the world in the development and advancement of AI.
The president was expected to sign an executive order Thursday afternoon concerning the federal government’s approach to AI, building on the administration’s efforts in championing AI advancement in the U.S. But early Thursday afternoon, the president told reporters in an unrelated Oval Office event that he is postponing that signing, saying he wants the U.S. to remain as competitive as possible.
“Because I didn’t like certain aspects of it, I postponed it,” Mr. Trump said when asked about the delay after a reporter for Punchbowl posted the news on X. “I think it gets in the way of, you know, we’re leading China, we’re leading everybody, and I don’t want to do anything that’s going to get in the way of that lead.”
The president said AI is causing “tremendous good” and claimed it is creating many jobs in the U.S. “I really thought that could have been a blocker, and I want to make sure that it’s not,” he added.
“I postponed that meeting, it was a press conference, it was a signing, actually,” he said. “Because I didn’t like what I was seeing.”
It’s not clear what specific provisions in the executive order draft Mr. Trump feels would have potentially stifled that progress.
Earlier Thursday, a source familiar with the draft executive order told WTX US News the current order included language to secure Pentagon systems, secure federal civilian systems and promote the use of AI tools. It also called for a voluntary framework with AI developers to engage the federal government over the release of covered models, including pre-public access to select technology.