Trump and Tech Leaders Debate AI Development Amid Safety Concerns

U.S. President Donald Trump participated in the Irish Open golf tournament at Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg, Ireland on Sunday, September 13, 2026. During the event, he addressed the growing concerns surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) and its development, which had been raised by several leaders in the tech industry. Trump downplayed these worries and suggested that the warnings were exaggerated, referring to them as claims from ‘negative forces’ without providing further clarification.

Speaking to reporters in Ireland, Trump emphasized the United States’ leading position in AI development compared to China. He stated, ‘We’re the most sophisticated country in the world, and frankly, I want to keep it that way because whoever wins AI, wins.’ He acknowledged the potential for implementing guardrails but criticized the negativity surrounding AI discussions.

House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed concern over imposing a moratorium on AI technology during an interview on CNN’s State of the Union. He argued that such a move could result in China surpassing the U.S. in AI advancement, posing a threat to American interests. Johnson advocated for tech companies to take the initiative in developing safer AI, indicating that Congress should avoid hasty emergency regulations that might hinder the U.S.’s competitive edge.

These statements emerged following warnings from Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, who published an essay calling for a slower pace in AI development to prevent potential loss of human control over AI systems. Amodei underscored the risks associated with using AI in cyberattacks and bioterrorism. He called for international collaboration and proposed that AI laboratories incorporate third-party evaluators to monitor safety practices and report incidents. Amodei committed that Anthropic would independently take such measures.

Tech leaders Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman echoed Amodei’s concerns in their social media posts, highlighting the need for caution. Altman, in particular, informed Fortune Magazine that he would postpone OpenAI’s public offering until 2027 due to safety considerations. He also mentioned conversations within the company about pausing AI technology tests for enhanced safety.

David Sacks, co-chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, responded to these developments on social media. He supported Altman’s and Amodei’s decisions to slow down AI progress, if necessary. However, Sacks urged tech leaders to act independently without waiting for external permission. He warned them against portraying their motives as purely altruistic and pointed out the substantial product-liability risks if AI-enabled cyberattacks occur.

NPR’s Shannon Bond contributed additional reporting to this story.