Trump says Bessent won't be his 'super intelligence' czar

Donald Trump has ruled out Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for his planned artificial intelligence adviser role, posting on Truth Social on Friday that Bessent “will not be going to be Super Intelligence (SI) Czar”, according to Reuters.

“Number One, he doesn’t want to. Number Two, he’s doing such a great job at Treasury, and that’s where I want to keep him! Why would I ever make such a change?” Trump wrote, using his preferred term for artificial intelligence. The Washington Examiner reports he added: “Just more Fake News!” — an apparent response to a Semafor report that listed Bessent as a top contender for the post.

Trump said last week he plans to appoint an AI czar and create an “AI force”, though he has given no details on either. Bessent had been seen as a front runner after leading AI-focused talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in New York last Sunday, ahead of this week’s Trump–Xi Jinping summit in Washington.

According to Semafor, other contenders include White House science policy director Michael Kratsios and personnel office director Scott Kupor. David Sacks served as White House AI and crypto czar until leaving the post in March.

At the UN General Assembly earlier this week, Trump said he would direct his administration to rename artificial intelligence “super intelligence” in all official US government documents, the Examiner reports. The White House has not said who will fill the czar role.

Sources

• Reuters: Trump says Treasury’s Bessent will not be his AI czar — post wording, AI adviser/AI force plan, Bessent front-runner status, He Lifeng talks, White House silence
• CNA: Trump says Treasury’s Bessent will not be his AI czar
• Washington Examiner: Trump confirms Bessent will not be ‘super intelligence’ czar — “Just more Fake News!”, Semafor contender list, UNGA rename directive
• CNBC TV18: Trump says Treasury’s Bessent will not be his AI czar