Trump dismisses AI warnings, calls technology 'greatest economic development engine'

September 16, 2026 at 01:41 PM2 min

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President Donald Trump on Monday dismissed warnings about artificial intelligence as a hoax and endorsed the technology as 'the greatest economic development engine in history.' His social media posts came amid growing skepticism from industry insiders and politicians, including within his own Republican Party. Former adviser Steve Bannon and Senator Bernie Sanders publicly challenged Trump's stance at a 'pro-human' conference on Tuesday.

Key Facts

Trump called AI concerns a hoax and endorsed the technology as 'the greatest economic development engine in history' in social media posts on Monday.
Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon said at a 'pro-human' conference on Tuesday that the technology could be great but 'we're not going to give these guys a carte blanche.'
Senator Bernie Sanders told the same conference that Washington policymakers had not addressed the 'potentially catastrophic consequence' of unregulated AI.
Trump wrote that the only control AI needs is a 'STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT' and that the US already has 'tremendous CRIMINAL and REGULATORY power' over AI companies.

Trump's Endorsement

Trump styled himself as the 'hoax buster' in a series of social media posts on Monday, issuing a full-throated endorsement of AI. He dismissed concerns that 'robots will be marching into our cities and getting rid of us all' as a hoax. The president said the only control or guardrails AI needs is a 'STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT.' Trump asserted that the US already has 'tremendous CRIMINAL and REGULATORY power' over AI companies.

Growing Skepticism

The ranks of doubters have been growing in recent weeks amid anxiety over AI's disruptive nature among industry insiders and politicians, including within Trump's own Republican Party. Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon said at a 'pro-human' conference on Tuesday that 'we're not going to give these guys a carte blanche' and that there has been no debate. Senator Bernie Sanders told the same crowd that Congress under both Democratic and Republican control has been 'asleep at the wheel' and criticized Trump's ignorance on the issue.

Presidential Authority

Trump's desire for centralized presidential authority is a familiar theme in his second term, similar to his outlook on immigration and trade. He wrote that if he decides something is good, he should have the authority to allow it, and if he deems it bad, he ought to be able to end it by unilateral presidential order.