# Trump appoints Clayton as White House AI czar

> Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton will lead Trump's new Super Intelligence Force to coordinate federal AI policy.
- Title: Trump appoints Clayton as White House AI czar · NPR | Shortify
- Summary: Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton will lead Trump's new Super Intelligence Force to coordinate federal AI policy. President Trump named Jay…
- Keywords: jay clayton, trump administration, artificial intelligence, white house, national intelligence, ai regulation, super intelligence force, politics, news, Trump, appoints, Clayton
- Source: NPR — https://npr.org/2026/10/04/nx-s1-5990781/jay-clayton-ai-czar-trump
- Published: 2026-10-04T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: jay clayton, trump administration, artificial intelligence, white house, national intelligence, ai regulation, super intelligence force, politics, news
## Trump names Clayton AI czar
President Trump announced on Sunday that Jay Clayton, Director of National Intelligence, will lead the White House's new Super Intelligence Force to coordinate federal AI policy.
## Clayton's background in finance and law
Before his current role, Clayton was United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
## Trump reframes AI as super intelligence
Trump prefers the term super intelligence to artificial intelligence and says his force will coordinate engagement with consumers, public interest groups, religious organisations, and AI companies.
## Clayton calls AI a security issue
In a CNBC interview last month, Clayton called super intelligence a national security issue and rejected calls for a pause in development, saying other countries continue advancing AI.

> I don't think any American should think that that's a good strategy.
## Unclear impact on AI regulation
Current U.S. AI regulation is limited, with Congress having passed no broad federal law. Some states including California have enacted transparency requirements for AI use.
## Clayton replaces Sacks in AI role
David Sacks, Trump's previous AI and crypto czar appointed in December twenty twenty-four, stepped down earlier this year to become co-chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
## Key takeaway

President Trump named Jay Clayton, the Director of National Intelligence, to lead a new White House Super Intelligence Force coordinating federal AI engagement.