Trump voters are organizing a protest against his approach to AI, with conservative activists warning that the political cost could land directly on Republicans. More than 60 members of Trump
Trump voters are organizing a protest against his approach to AI, with conservative activists warning that the political cost could land directly on Republicans.
More than 60 members of Trump’s inner circle have already asked the administration to introduce stricter checks for dangerous models before releasing them.
The disagreement comes after Trump flat-out said he won’t put new limits on AI and argued against measures that could slow the industry. He had said:
“The only control or “guardrails” that AI needs is a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT, and the U.S.A. has that, in spades! The Trump Administration has stopped AI “people” from doing bad, or potentially bad, “things,“ like Dario (Anthropic!), who is now pretending to be a “perfect little angel” – and we will continue to do so!”
Trump’s stance has made many within his own team wonder about the reasoning behind this, considering the president’s reputation for paying close attention to the needs of his supporters on any one of technology’s greatest disputes.
According to conservative analysts, one of the answers lies in Trump’s circle of influence: Critics claim that Silicon Valley investor David Sacks, who used to be Trump’s top advisor on the issue of artificial intelligence policy, currently has way too much influence, outshining those who have called for tighter regulations all along.
Trump has developed a friendship with Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), who happens to be at the center of the computing revolution. Again and again, Jensen has rejected calls for regulating his innovations, which makes him a useful ally.
Some Republicans believe money, not the people advising Trump, is the key.
The U.S. economy has grown ever more reliant on artificial intelligence infrastructure and computing power. Meanwhile, inflation, a continuing consequence of the Trump administration’s war with Iran, poses a significant threat to American politicians. All this means one thing: drastic measures with regards to AI could damage economic growth and corporate spending.
Brendan Steinhauser, a former Tea Party activist and Republican strategist who runs The Alliance for Secure AI, said Trump normally has a strong feel for his supporters but appears worried about what happens financially if the country changes direction on AI.
However, Brendan noted that while he is well aware of the economic worry, the White House would have to take care of the issues of cybersecurity and national security related to the more sophisticated models as well. Brendan’s organization has been advocating for greater federal control over the more advanced AI systems.
Rep. Ron DeSantis is moving forward with artificial intelligence regulations in Florida against White House opposition. Gov. Greg Abbott in Texas flipped on some elements of data center growth following earlier enthusiasm for investments, saying “they got the reaction they deserved.”
The state has escalated the effort. Texas suspended issuance of new data center permits pending evaluation of grid impacts. More than 470 gigawatts’ worth of potential projects sought access to the grid, according to reporting on the executive order, nearly six times greater than peak power usage in Texas.
The pressure is reaching Republican strongholds where Trump remains popular.
In Berkeley County, West Virginia, a planned $4 billion data center has run into local opposition. Republican Chris Anders believes the dispute could threaten his state legislative seat even though he backed Trump in 2024.
“I’m fighting for my life right now,” Chris said. “I supported the president in 2024, that doesn’t mean I’m in lockstep with him.”
Back in Washington, Brendan and other conservative activists are still trying to change Trump’s position from inside the inner Republican circle.
Activists have also tried a much more personal argument with Trump. They have warned him that an advanced AI system capable of breaking into financial infrastructure could theoretically hit bank accounts, financial networks, and even his family fortune.
The conservative Alliance for a Better Future is meanwhile spending money to support Mike’s position in Michigan. Its advertisements focus on his proposals for AI controls and describe his support for guardrails as a major part of his campaign.
The group also plans to deploy “significant resources in key states in the coming weeks.”
The smartest crypto minds already read our newsletter. Want in? Join them.
