# Trump Rejects AI Guardrails as Bipartisan Alarm Grows in Congress - URL: https://twotakes.us/stories/trump-rejects-ai-guardrails-as-bipartisan-alarm-grows-in-congress - Published: 2026-09-16T01:12:01.570860+00:00 - Topics: artificial-intelligence, ai-regulation, trump-administration, congress, china ## What the left says - AI companies themselves, including Anthropic, OpenAI, and xAI leadership, are now warning that unchecked development poses catastrophic or existential risks, lending credibility to calls for federal action. - Trump's dismissal of AI dangers as a "hoax" and "sick conspiracy" ignores the resignation of an Anthropic researcher who says firms are "gambling with our lives" by racing toward self-improving superintelligence. - Trump's family financial ties to AI investments, including through 1789 Capital, raise questions about whether personal profit motives are shaping his opposition to regulation. - Leaving AI companies to police themselves is inadequate; Congress needs to establish enforceable safety testing, verification, and oversight requirements before a disaster occurs rather than reacting afterward. ## What the right says - Winning the AI race against China is a paramount national security priority, and heavy-handed regulation risks ceding technological and military advantage to Beijing. - Calls for regulation from AI CEOs like Anthropic's Dario Amodei may be self-serving, aiming to entrench their market position by burying smaller competitors and startups under costly compliance burdens. - A strong, capable president combined with existing legal and product liability frameworks can manage AI risks without new bureaucratic mandates that could stifle American innovation. - Any regulatory approach should favor a "light touch" that targets the most consequential, advanced threats while preserving Congress's ability to act without harming the country's competitive edge. ## Common ground - AI is advancing rapidly and carries real risks that warrant attention from both the public and private sectors. - Members of both parties, including Speaker Johnson and Democratic leaders, agree that AI companies bear some responsibility for ensuring their products are safe. - Lawmakers across the spectrum, including Senate Majority Leader Thune and Senate Commerce Committee members, agree that Congress should establish some form of guardrails around the most advanced AI threats. - Both sides recognize that competition with China is a significant factor shaping how the U.S. approaches AI policy. ## Sources - [Breitbart](https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2026/09/14/dem-rep-casar-on-china-winning-a-i-race-no-one-can-win-a-i-arms-race-once-you-cross-finish-line-you-die/) (Right) - [Breitbart](https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2026/09/14/warren-congress-needs-to-immediately-pass-bare-bones-ai-regulations/) (Right) - [Breitbart](https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2026/09/14/gop-rep-obernolte-we-dont-have-clear-liability-rules-on-a-i/) (Right) - [CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bernie-sanders-steve-bannon-bipartisan-ai-pro-human-conference/) (Lean Left) - [Daily Caller](https://dailycaller.com/2026/09/15/jeffries-thune-ai-regulation-congress) (Right) - [Daily Caller](https://dailycaller.com/2026/09/15/lawmakers-trump-ai-threat-guardrails) (Right) - [Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/facebook-cofounder-dustin-moskovitz-effective-altruism-network-tied-ai-regulation-push) (Right) - [HuffPost](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mike-johnson-ai-leaders-responsibility_n_6aa6b7bae4b0781f9692d7ff) (Left) - [HuffPost](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ai-ted-cruz-amy-klobuchar-maria-cantwell_n_6aa439e7e4b09fd4319eb703) (Left) - [Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion](https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/09/trump-completely-rejects-ai-experts-push-to-pace-the-frontier/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=trump-completely-rejects-ai-experts-push-to-pace-the-frontier) (Unknown) - [Newsmax](https://www.newsmax.com/politics/mike-johnson-moratorium-artificial-intelligence/2026/09/15/id/1269497) (Right) - [New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/15/us/politics/congress-ai-regulation-bills.html) (Lean Left) - [PBS NewsHour](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/trump-pushes-back-as-ai-leaders-fuel-calls-to-rein-in-rapidly-advancing-technology) (Lean Left) - [Politico](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/14/alex-bores-ai-group-who-decides-01076451) (Lean Left) - [RealClearPolitics](https://www.realclearpolitics.com/2026/09/15/congress_takes_up_tech_industrys_apocalyptic_visions_711009.html) (Center) - [The Daily Signal](https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/09/15/beyer-seeks-hearings-about-ai-regulation/) (Right) - [The Hill](https://thehill.com/policy/technology/6090823-lynch-urges-bessent-trump-ai-regulation/) (Center) - [The Hill](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/6090811-house-democrats-demand-ai-regulation/) (Center) - [The Hill](https://thehill.com/policy/technology/6090717-waters-attacks-trump-ai-policy/) (Center) - [The Hill](https://thehill.com/policy/technology/6090277-california-democrat-ai-safety-regulation/) (Center) - [The Hill](https://thehill.com/video-clips/6089902-watch-live-house-democrats-press-conference-ai-fears-midterms-affordability/) (Center) - [The Hill](https://thehill.com/video-clips/6089773-watch-live-house-republicans-press-conference-ai-midterms-russia-sanctions/) (Center) - [The Hill](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/6089724-jon-ossoff-donald-trump-ai-fears-regulation/) (Center) - [The Hill](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/6089115-gop-ai-safeguards-congress/) (Center) - [The Hill](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6089123-trump-resists-ai-regulation-warnings/) (Center) - [Vox](https://www.vox.com/the-logoff-newsletter-trump/502799/trump-ai-existential-risk-guardrails-full-speed-ahead) (Left) --- Content by TwoTakes (https://twotakes.us). 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