White House Calls Bessent AI Czar Reports "Speculation" as Trump Plans AI Force
by Maisie Morrison · BlockonomiTLDR
Table of Contents
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is reportedly a frontrunner to become President Trump’s next AI czar.
- Trump announced plans for an AI czar and a new “AI Force” on Sept. 19 but shared few details.
- Michael Kratsios, Scott Kupor and Sean Cairncross are also reportedly being considered.
- The White House called reports on unannounced personnel decisions “baseless speculation.”
- The role was last held by David Sacks, who also led crypto policy until March.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is reportedly a leading candidate to become President Donald Trump’s next artificial intelligence czar. The news comes days after Trump said he plans to create a new “AI Force.”
Semafor reported on Sept. 22 that Bessent is a frontrunner for the job, citing three people familiar with the matter. No appointment has been made.
Other officials reportedly under consideration include Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Scott Kupor, director of the Office of Personnel Management. National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross is also on the list.
White House spokesperson Kush Desai pushed back on the reports. He told Semafor that “any reporting about personnel decisions that have not been officially announced by the administration should be regarded as baseless speculation.”
Trump Announces Plans for an AI Force
Trump announced the plans in a Sept. 19 Truth Social post. He shared few details about the AI Force’s structure, authority or membership.
The announcement did not explain whether the group would have regulatory power or how it would work with existing federal agencies. Trump has favored using existing laws to address AI misuse rather than adding new rules.
The White House’s National AI Policy Framework, released earlier this year, favored voluntary agreements with tech companies. It also called on Congress to override state AI laws seen as too burdensome.
Bessent’s Growing Role in AI and Crypto Policy
Bessent has become more involved in AI talks this year. According to Semafor, his role grew after financial institutions raised concerns that advanced AI could expose weaknesses in their operations.
This week, during meetings around the United Nations General Assembly, Bessent spoke with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. They discussed a formal U.S.-China dialogue on AI, including a possible system to alert each other about AI incidents that pose national security risks.
In a CNBC interview earlier this week, Bessent said an AI czar could help put “context, shape and contours” around questions raised by AI. He said humans remain responsible for decisions involving AI systems.
Bessent has also been a key voice on crypto policy. In May, he urged lawmakers to advance the CLARITY Act and said the administration opposed a U.S. central bank digital currency.
He also told the Senate Finance Committee that the administration remained committed to developing the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
The AI czar role was previously held by venture capitalist David Sacks, who served as Trump’s AI and crypto czar. Sacks ended his term in March after reaching the 130-day service limit for special government employees.
Sacks still advises Trump as a co-chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
Semafor reported that Bessent and Cairncross disagreed in May over Anthropic’s Mythos model. Keeping the Treasury post would not block Bessent from the extra role, as Interior Secretary Doug Burgum also holds an energy policy coordinating role.
OpenAI’s head of national security policy, Sasha Baker, said at a Sept. 22 Semafor event that a U.S.-China AI crisis line could be a “starting place” for cooperation.
Trump has not named a preferred candidate. The White House has not confirmed Bessent or any other official as the next AI czar.