Trump names national intelligence chief Jay Clayton as new AI czar

Jay Clayton testifies during a Senate Intelligence Committee confirmation hearing to be the next Director of National Intelligence on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, July 15, 2026, in Washington. Mariam Zuhaib/AP hide caption

Director of national intelligence Jay Clayton is the new White House AI czar, President Trump said on Sunday.

Trump wrote on Truth Social that Clayton will lead the White House's new "Super Intelligence Force," a group that will "ensure that America continues to lead the World in Super Intelligence."

Trump prefers the term "super intelligence" to "artificial intelligence." He said his "Super Intelligence Force" will "coordinate the Federal Government's engagement with Consumers, Public Interest Groups, Religious Organizations, Critical Infrastructure Providers, and Super Intelligence Companies."

Before being confirmed earlier this year to lead national intelligence, Clayton was United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Trump's announcement follows various statements of alarm from tech leaders over risks in the rapid development of AI, including that it could go rogue. Trump has largely brushed aside the warnings and attempted to reframe concerns around AI.

On Tuesday, Trump met with AI executives at the White House, and said afterwards that leaders of several artificial intelligence companies had signed a voluntary accord that will include internal and external reviews of their work.

Meanwhile, the White House also launched a revamped government website this week, America.gov , which says it is sourced via artificial intelligence from "official government sources."