Trump's AI Stance Faces Internal White House Tension

President Donald Trump views AI development as critical to US economic growth, dismissing extinction fears as a "hoax" while opposing slowdowns that could trigger market crashes, despite internal administration concerns about safety risks. Trump's stance is reinforced by Silicon Valley figures like David Sacks, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jensen Huang, who warn that caution could let China overtake the US. However, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and chief of staff Susie Wiles worry about AI-driven infrastructure hacks, financial instability, and job losses. The administration lacks a single AI policy coordinator, with key posts eliminated and expertise purged. Trump plans to meet AI executives next week, while US-China safety talks with Treasury Secretary Bessent and his Chinese counterpart are unlikely to yield expansive agreements, with only a working group on nuclear weapons decisions seen as feasible.