Trump vows to create an 'AI Force' and appoint an AI czar, rejecting slowdown calls

President Donald Trump announced Saturday he will create an "AI Force" and appoint an AI czar, vowing not to hinder industry growth while suggesting the justice system will handle misconduct. He rejected calls to slow AI development as politically driven "hoaxes." Trump posted on Truth Social that the administration will "cherish" and "watch over" the industry, predicting AI could represent 25% of U.S. GDP. The announcement follows industry leaders agreeing to throttle development speed, with Anthropic and OpenAI facing criticism from a resigning researcher who warned of existential risks. The AI Force announcement comes amid legal and regulatory tensions, including a Friday antitrust lawsuit alleging AI companies illegally coordinated slowdown efforts. Trump's move also follows Commerce Department export restrictions on Anthropic and a court ruling against a Defense Department blacklist attempt.