Trump backs ban on state AI laws
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Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
President Trump on Tuesday called for a federal standard for regulating AI, saying state regulation is threatening to undermine AI-driven economic growth.
Why it matters: Trump is making his views known as Republicans consider whether to support federal preemption of state laws — an idea that has failed in Congress before following intense, widespread criticism from both sides of the aisle.
- House Majority Leader Steve Scalise is trying to include state AI regulation preemption in a must-pass defense policy bill that's expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.
What they're saying: "Investment in AI is helping to make the U.S. Economy the "HOTTEST" in the World — But overregulation by the States is threatening to undermine this Growth Engine," Trump posted on Truth Social.
- "Some States are even trying to embed DEI ideology into AI models, producing "Woke AI" (Remember Black George Washington?). We MUST have one Federal Standard instead of a patchwork of 50 State Regulatory Regimes. We can do this in a way that protects children AND prevents censorship!"
Catch up quick: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has promised to revive his efforts to stop state-level AI regulation, but faces opposition from key Republicans, including Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and conservative leaders outside of Congress.
- 99 senators, including Cruz himself, ended up voting to strip the AI moratorium from the budget bill this summer.
- Blackburn and others like Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) are adamant about protecting kids online and view AI chatbots as a serious threat that states have been leading on addressing.
The bottom line: Expect Republican infighting as regulating AI is a bipartisan priority both outside of Washington and in some pockets of D.C.
- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier on Tuesday came out against this latest effort.
