In his UN General Assembly speech, Trump rejects a "globalist scheme to control" AI, saying the US is "leading now over China by a lot and everyone else"

The U.S. rejects global AI regulation, prioritizing national leadership over international controls.

During a United Nations General Assembly address on September 22, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump rejected international efforts to regulate artificial intelligence. He characterized such attempts as a "globalist scheme to control" AI and drew parallels between its perceived risks and climate change, which he referred to as a hoax. Trump asserted that the United States is currently leading in AI development significantly ahead of China and other nations. He also proposed rebranding AI as "super intelligence," arguing that "artificial" makes it sound fake and diminishes its actual capabilities. Trump stated his intention not to stifle the growth of AI, suggesting it could surpass the impact of the industrial revolution.

The U.S. president's stance signals a divergence from calls by prominent AI industry leaders, such as OpenAI's Sam Altman and Anthropic's Dario Amodei, who have advocated for greater regulation and a measured approach to AI development. Trump's administration appears to favor a competitive, unhindered race for AI supremacy, contrasting sharply with international discussions and industry consensus on responsible AI governance. This position could influence global AI policy debates and the development trajectory of the technology.

By framing AI regulation as a "globalist scheme" and a potential stifling of American progress, Trump positions the U.S. as a leader determined to achieve technological dominance. His administration's rejection of international oversight suggests a nationalistic approach to AI development, where competition is prioritized over collaborative risk mitigation. This may lead to disparate regulatory environments and accelerate a race for AI capabilities, potentially with fewer guardrails than international bodies might have pursued.