Trump's comments came as concerns over the potential dangers of increasingly powerful AI systems intensified following warnings from technology executives and researchers that the rapid development of the technology could pose serious risks to society.
The debate gained momentum after Jacob Coxon, a researcher at Anthropic, said he had resigned from the company partly because of concerns about the views held by some people developing advanced AI.
Coxon said the “people building AI earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade.”
The warning added to growing public anxiety about the potential consequences of increasingly sophisticated AI systems, including their possible misuse and the difficulty of ensuring that developers remain accountable as the technology advances.
AI-related stocks fell globally on Monday after several senior figures in the industry called for a slower approach to AI development and greater attention to safety.
Trump, however, rejected the suggestion that additional government controls were necessary.
Writing on his Truth Social platform, the president said: “The only control or 'guardrails' that AI needs is a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT, and the U.S.A. has that, in spades!”
He also argued that concerns about AI development could ultimately benefit China by weakening the United States' position in the rapidly evolving technology race.
Trump is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington next week. The two countries have also been planning separate discussions on AI-related risks involving lower-level government officials.
The disagreement over how far government should go in regulating artificial intelligence has increasingly divided policymakers and technology executives, with some industry leaders now calling for government intervention while others warn that excessive regulation could undermine innovation.
US House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Monday that he expected Trump to meet with AI executives this week or “early next week.”
Johnson said the meeting would examine “the responsibilities of the companies to maintain safety and what role, if any, the government has to play in that.”
Vice President JD Vance also expressed skepticism about AI companies seeking government regulation.
“I feel a little bit weird about the fact that you have so many frontier AI tech companies kind of coming to the government and begging the government to regulate them,” Vance said.
Trump has similarly dismissed the industry's push for regulation, describing it on social media as a “hoax.”
Amodei Calls for Independent AI Audits
The latest debate was partly triggered by an essay published on Saturday by Anthropic Chief Executive Officer Dario Amodei, who called for new federal rules governing the most advanced AI systems, commonly known as frontier models.
Amodei proposed that the US government require independent audits of the most powerful AI tools as part of a broader effort to identify and reduce potential risks.
He outlined a three-step framework intended to slow the pace of AI development and provide governments, companies and researchers with more time to address safety concerns.
The proposal received support from several prominent technology executives, including Elon Musk, the head of xAI, and OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman.
The discussion has also attracted the attention of lawmakers. Senator Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat and prominent figure in technology legislation, spoke with Amodei and Altman over the weekend about concerns surrounding AI safety, according to his spokesperson.
Reuters also reported on Monday that three US senators were working on legislation that would require AI companies to demonstrate that they were taking reasonable precautions to prevent their systems from causing harm. The details of the proposed legislation, however, remained under discussion.
Trump's position marks a continuation of his broader approach to the technology industry during his second term. The president has generally embraced major technology companies and promoted US leadership in AI development, while resisting arguments that stronger federal oversight is immediately necessary.
Trump also claimed that safeguards had already been used against Amodei's Anthropic, although he did not provide details.
“The Trump Administration has stopped AI 'people' from doing bad, or potentially bad, 'things,' like Dario (Anthropic!), who is now pretending to be a 'perfect little angel' — and we will continue to do so,” Trump wrote.
Anthropic did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on Trump's remarks.
Trump Administration and Anthropic Clash
The president's comments come against the backdrop of an escalating dispute between Anthropic and the Trump administration over the company's AI models and their potential military applications.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth previously blocked Anthropic from certain military contracts after the company refused to permit the US government to use its Claude AI models for domestic surveillance or autonomous weapons.
Anthropic challenged the administration's actions in federal court in California. On August 27, a US judge sided with Anthropic in one of the company's lawsuits.
The dispute has become part of the wider argument over who should determine the limits of advanced AI — technology companies, government regulators or both.
As AI systems become more capable and are increasingly deployed across business, government and national security, the disagreement over regulation is likely to remain a major policy issue.
For Trump and his administration, the priority remains maintaining US leadership in AI and avoiding regulations that could slow technological development. For a growing group of technology executives, researchers and lawmakers, however, the rapid pace of development makes stronger safeguards increasingly urgent.