# Trump threatens AI exec with arrest over safety concerns

> In a 60 Minutes interview, Trump claimed the DOJ threatened an unnamed AI company leader with jail time over safety issues, then said the threat worked.
- Title: Trump threatens AI exec with arrest over safety concerns
- Summary: In a 60 Minutes interview, Trump claimed the DOJ threatened an unnamed AI company leader with jail time over safety issues, then said the threat worked.
- Keywords: trump, ai safety, 60 minutes, doj, ai executives, china, guardrails, The Verge
- Source: The Verge — https://theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/1029802/trump-60-minutes-ai
- Author: Stevie Bonifield
- Published: 2026-11-09T15:50:38+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: trump, ai safety, 60 minutes, doj, ai executives, china, guardrails, technology, culture
## Trump downplays AI safety risks
On 60 Minutes, Trump said AI safety risks are not as serious as executives claim and can be managed by government action.

> I think that the risk is not nearly as real as it, as they talk, and I think the risk can be managed, and it's managed.
## DOJ threatened unnamed AI leader with jail
Trump claimed the DOJ told a top AI company leader to get ready for arrest over safety concerns, but refused to name the person or company.

> We called them very strongly and said, 'Get ready to go to jail. Please give your wife a kiss good night.'
## Trump says threat changed the executive's behavior
Trump claimed that after the DOJ threat, the unnamed AI executive totally changed everything about their approach to the company.

> this person totally changed everything.
## Trump open to AI guardrails with Democrats
Trump said he would absolutely work with Democrats on AI safety guardrails but does not want guardrails to put the US behind China.

> I don't mind guardrails, but I don't want to put us in a deep second position. We're leading number one.
## Key takeaway

Trump told 60 Minutes the DOJ threatened an unnamed AI executive with arrest over safety concerns, claiming the threat prompted the person to change their approach.