President Trump says Scott Bessent is not "going to be Super Intelligence (SI) Czar", because "he doesn't want to" and Trump wants to keep him at the Treasury

The planned AI czar position will not be filled by a Treasury official, removing one potential avenue for direct White House influence on AI policy within the financial sector.

Former President Donald Trump announced that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will not be appointed as his "Super Intelligence (SI) Czar." Trump stated this decision was made because Bessent himself did not wish to take on the role, and Trump wanted to retain him at the Treasury Department due to his excellent performance. This announcement follows reports from Semafor and Reuters suggesting Bessent was under consideration for the AI czar position. Trump had previously stated his intention to form an "AI Force" and appoint an AI "Czar" in the near future, likening AI's potential impact to a revolution that could constitute as much as 25% of the country's GDP and emphasizing his goal to maintain U.S. leadership in the field over China.

The decision to keep Bessent at Treasury indicates a prioritization of his current financial role over a newly conceived AI oversight position. This suggests that the administration may be rethinking the structure or necessity of a dedicated AI czar, or that it intends to fill the role with someone else entirely. The emphasis on Bessent's performance at Treasury also highlights the administration's focus on economic stability and growth as potentially being intertwined with AI development, rather than AI being a standalone technological initiative.

This development signals a more cautious or perhaps less centralized approach to AI governance within the former president's potential future administration. It raises questions about how AI policy will be formulated and implemented if a key figure identified for a leadership role declines it. The market and tech sector will be watching to see if this perceived hesitancy translates into a more fragmented or delayed national AI strategy compared to other global competitors.