Why Trump Ruled Out Scott Bessent as AI Czar—and What Happens to His AI Plans

President Donald Trump ruled out Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as his “Super Intelligence” czar on September 25, 2026. Trump said Bessent did not want the job and that he wanted to keep him at Treasury, where he said Bessent was doing a good job. The announcement came after reports that Bessent was being considered for the role, amid his AI-focused talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng. 119

Why Trump said Bessent would stay at Treasury

Trump gave two reasons for his decision: Bessent did not want the position, and Trump wanted him to remain Treasury secretary. His statement settled the question of Bessent’s appointment, not who might fill the proposed role. 1

The speculation had followed a September 22 Reuters report, citing a source familiar with the discussions, that Bessent could become the administration’s AI czar. 19 Bessent’s meeting with He Lifeng also involved a U.S. proposal for a channel to communicate about serious AI-related safety or national-security incidents. 17

The AI czar and “AI Force” are still loosely defined

Trump had said on September 19 that he planned to appoint an AI adviser and create an “AI Force,” comparing the proposed force to the Space Force. He did not provide details on how either initiative would be organized or implemented. 18 Trump later used “Super Intelligence,” or “SI,” as his preferred term for AI. 1

So far, the September 25 announcement answers one personnel question: Bessent will not take the role. It does not explain the proposed czar’s authority, how the “AI Force” would work, or who will lead either initiative. 118

What Bessent proposed in U.S.–China AI talks

After meeting He, Bessent said the U.S. had proposed an AI notification mechanism for the two countries to consider. The idea was to communicate about incidents that could reach the level of a national-security concern, with the proposal to be considered by Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. 17

That should not be mistaken for an established joint alert system. The reporting described a U.S. proposal and a possible dialogue; it did not establish that both governments had agreed to operate a formal mechanism. 17

A divide over AI risks and regulation

Trump has argued that existing safeguards are in place and that the Justice Department could act against AI-related problems if needed, while opposing new AI regulations. His adviser David Sacks has also dismissed some public concern about AI as fearmongering and argued that developers should be responsible for product safety.

Others have called for stronger oversight. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has urged independent audits of advanced AI models, according to Reuters.

Bessent’s proposal for U.S.–China communication on serious incidents is narrower than a broad regulatory framework: it focuses on a way to discuss shared security concerns. It remains a proposal, not evidence that the two countries have agreed on a wider approach to AI governance. 17