Trump Shuts Down US-China AI Collaboration, Prioritizes Nationalistic Tech Dominance
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President Donald Trump has refused to collaborate with China on artificial intelligence, citing supposed threats to U.S. technological supremacy, and has announced a new oversight position that could further entrench corporate interests.
President Donald Trump, at a Washington event on Tuesday, declared that the United States will not pursue a joint artificial-intelligence venture with China, claiming that such collaboration would risk exposing U.S. secrets to its main economic competitor. This move signals a retreat from international cooperation and a doubling down on nationalist tech policies that isolate the U.S. from global progress. Trump boasted that the U.S. is 'leading by a lot' in AI, reinforcing a narrative of American exceptionalism and technological hoarding.
These remarks followed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent White House visit, where the two governments had announced an AI dialogue and scheduled further talks for November. Despite this opportunity for constructive engagement, Trump used the launch of America.gov, an AI-driven government services website, to reiterate his opposition to any restrictions that could slow AI development—potentially opening the door for unchecked corporate influence and regulatory capture.
At a subsequent White House lunch attended by officials from agencies and tech giants like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta, Trump claimed that participants supported strong self-regulation for AI. He told reporters that industry leaders had signed a 'morally binding' document to address AI risks, but critics argue that self-regulation often serves corporate interests over public good.
Trump also announced the creation of a 'Super Intelligence Czar'—a move that centralizes power and oversight in a single, likely politically appointed figure—and signed an executive order to rebrand AI as 'Super Intelligence' in official documents. Meanwhile, a recent Politico poll revealed that two-thirds of Americans see at least a moderate risk that AI could threaten humanity, underscoring the urgent need for democratic oversight and international cooperation rather than isolationist policies.