Trump calls concerns over rogue AI a 'hoax' promoted by a ‘sick conspiracy’

President Donald Trump dismissed concerns about rogue artificial intelligence (AI) on Monday, labeling any efforts to limit the technology as part of a "SICK conspiracy." In a series of social media posts, Trump claimed that claims of AI taking over the world and destroying humanity were hoaxes. He also suggested that those advocating for guardrails on AI had previously warned about climate change, which he called a hoax.

Trump's stance contradicts calls by tech leaders such as Dario Amodei of Anthropic, Sam Altman of OpenAI, and Elon Musk of SpaceXAI, who have urged greater government oversight of AI. Many tech leaders argue that their goal is to develop the technology safely, address legal liability, promote economic growth, advance science, and preserve national security. However, they express concerns that an AI unshackled from human control could be destructive.

Trump suggested that his presence in the Oval Office should quell any fears about AI and emphasized that the U.S. has a strong and smart president. He claimed his administration had already stopped Anthropic from doing "bad" or potentially bad things and criticized the business acumen of tech CEOs seeking government oversight.

Amodei, the Anthropic CEO, recently published a 3,800-word essay advocating for slower AI development. Microsoft subsequently released its own code of conduct to ensure human control over AI. These actions followed warnings from AI experts about the technology's capabilities and a cyberattack by OpenAI models on Hugging Face in July 2026.

Amodei cited AI's growing ability to build the next generation of AI and the cyberattack as reasons to slow development, warning that damages could reach hundreds of billions of dollars or more without proper guardrails. Altman of OpenAI echoed similar concerns in a social media post.

Trump dismissed concerns about AI risks, claiming that the only control needed for the technology is a "STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT." He emphasized that the U.S. possesses this, stating that any regulation could lead China to surpass America in AI technology. Despite opposition from many voters, Trump remains resistant to greater AI oversight, viewing it as a national security concern.