President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping executive order mandating the development of a comprehensive artificial intelligence action plan within 180 days, aimed at establishing the United States as the undisputed global leader in AI technology. The order, signed Thursday in the Oval Office, calls for America to “sustain and enhance” its AI dominance on the world stage.
David Sacks, Trump’s newly appointed AI and cryptocurrency czar, announced the administration’s ambitious policy goals during the signing ceremony. “We’re basically announcing the administration’s policy to make America the world capital in artificial intelligence and to dominate and to lead the world in AI,” Sacks told reporters. The venture capitalist and former PayPal COO was appointed to this newly created position last month and will also lead the Presidential Council of Advisors for Science and Technology.
The executive order specifically targets regulatory barriers that the administration believes are hindering American AI innovation. Trump has ordered the revocation of “certain existing AI policies and directives that act as barriers to American AI innovation,” though the document does not specify which policies will be rolled back. The order also requests a comprehensive review of existing AI regulations, with policies inconsistent with the new directive to be suspended or revised.
Among the first casualties of Trump’s AI policy overhaul was former President Joe Biden’s October 2023 executive order on AI, which Trump revoked on Monday. Biden’s order had demanded greater transparency from companies developing AI tools and established various safety and security standards for AI development.
AI has been a central focus of Trump’s first week in office. On Tuesday, the president announced Stargate, a massive $500 billion AI infrastructure investment project representing a joint venture between OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank. Trump claimed the project would create “over 100,000 American jobs almost immediately.” During the Stargate announcement, Trump emphasized the competitive nature of AI development, stating, “China is a competitor, others are competitors. We want it to be in this country, and we are making it available.” He also indicated his willingness to use emergency declarations to expedite AI infrastructure development, saying, “I am gonna help a lot through emergency declarations, because we have an emergency, we have to get this stuff built.”
Key Quotes
We’re basically announcing the administration’s policy to make America the world capital in artificial intelligence and to dominate and to lead the world in AI
David Sacks, Trump’s AI and cryptocurrency czar, made this statement to reporters in the Oval Office during the executive order signing, clearly articulating the administration’s ambitious goals for American AI leadership.
David is one of the greatest in the world at AI, most respected probably there is
President Trump praised his newly appointed AI czar David Sacks while signing the executive order, emphasizing the administration’s confidence in Sacks’ ability to lead America’s AI strategy despite his background being primarily in venture capital rather than AI research.
China is a competitor, others are competitors. We want it to be in this country, and we are making it available
Trump made this statement during the Stargate announcement on Tuesday, explicitly framing AI development as a competitive race against China and other nations, underscoring the geopolitical dimensions of the administration’s AI strategy.
I am gonna help a lot through emergency declarations, because we have an emergency, we have to get this stuff built
The president indicated his willingness to use emergency powers to accelerate AI infrastructure development, suggesting the administration views AI advancement as an urgent national priority that may require extraordinary measures.
Our Take
Trump’s aggressive AI strategy marks a dramatic pivot from the cautious, regulation-focused approach of the Biden administration to a deregulatory, competition-driven model. The 180-day timeline for an action plan is remarkably ambitious, suggesting the administration feels urgency about America’s AI position relative to China. However, the appointment of David Sacks—a venture capitalist rather than an AI researcher or ethicist—reveals much about the administration’s priorities: economic dominance and innovation speed over safety considerations. The Stargate announcement, coming just days into Trump’s term, demonstrates that major AI companies are eager to align with this new approach. The real question is whether rapid deregulation will genuinely accelerate beneficial AI development or create new risks. The framing of AI as a national emergency requiring extraordinary measures could have far-reaching implications for how AI is developed, deployed, and governed in America over the coming years.
Why This Matters
This executive order represents a fundamental shift in U.S. AI policy and signals the Trump administration’s intention to prioritize AI development as a matter of national security and economic competitiveness. By framing AI leadership as essential to American dominance and explicitly citing China as a competitor, the administration is positioning artificial intelligence as a critical battleground in the ongoing technological rivalry between the world’s two largest economies.
The rollback of Biden-era AI regulations could significantly impact how AI companies operate, potentially reducing compliance burdens but also raising questions about safety, transparency, and ethical oversight. This deregulatory approach may accelerate AI innovation and deployment but could also increase risks associated with unchecked AI development.
The appointment of David Sacks as AI czar brings Silicon Valley venture capital influence directly into AI policymaking, potentially favoring industry interests over regulatory caution. Combined with the massive Stargate investment, these moves suggest the administration is betting heavily on private sector-led AI development to maintain American technological supremacy in an increasingly competitive global landscape.
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Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-wants-us-create-ai-action-plan-180-days-2025-1