The AG picks a fight

Attorney General Todd Blanche told reporters Tuesday that Democrats are pushing AI regulation to swing the midterms, not because they suddenly care about the risk.

“Every Democrat senator suddenly races to a microphone to talk about AI after being eerily silent for months and months and months.”

Timing is the whole argument

Blanche's case rests on when the calls started, not on what the bills say. He framed the sudden Democratic interest as self-evidently political.

“I shouldn't have to say that out loud. Of course, that's what it is.”

Trump called it a hoax

In posts Monday, the president dismissed fears about AI taking over the world or destroying humanity, and said the technology needs no extra government guardrails.

“HOAX”

Leadership, not guardrails

Trump attacked what he described as a conspiracy against AI and data centers, arguing the answer is strong presidential leadership rather than regulatory limits.

Prosecutors, not regulators

Blanche backed the president but drew a line for his department. Existing criminal law already covers AI misuse, he said, so no new framework is needed.

“I do not think it's the job of the Department of Justice to regulate. We're prosecutors, not regulators.”

Cases are already charged

He said the DOJ has charged people in cases involving AI and will keep investigating violations, while calling the technology extraordinarily beneficial to society.

“There's plenty of cases involving AI that we've charged individuals.”

On elections, a shrug

Asked what role the DOJ will play in the midterms, Blanche said federal involvement in elections is routine and predates this administration.

“The federal government is always involved in elections. That's not new to this administration.”

The industry is split too

Anthropic's Dario Amodei, OpenAI's Sam Altman and xAI's Elon Musk have each raised risks, while others warn heavy rules would slow US innovation and help China.