Trump names intelligence chief Jay Clayton as new White House AI czar

Donald Trump on Sunday named Jay Clayton, the director of national intelligence, to serve also as the new White House AI czar.Clayton, who leads the US’s 18 intelligence agencies, previously served as the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan and led the Securities and Exchange Commission during Trump’s first term.During his Senate confirmation hearing, Clayton said AI was a “gamechanger”, but it also posed “a threat”.“When something’s both an opportunity and a threat, you better get your arms around it,” Clayton told lawmakers when asked about AI.CBS News was the first to report that Clayton would be appointed White House AI czar.In a social media post on Sunday, Trump announced that Clayton would lead what the US president called “the Super Intelligence Force (SIF)”.Trump’s post also said the SIF would “coordinate the federal government’s engagement with consumers, public interest groups, religious organizations, critical infrastructure providers, and super intelligence companies”.In September, Trump announced he was creating an “AI Force” and a czar to oversee the technology’s growth and monitor for “bad” development. The announcement came after tech industry leaders warned that AI was developing too rapidly to control and that it could harm humans.The president has largely brushed aside concerns about AI development and the construction of datacenters, which power the technology.Trump has insisted continued development is paramount to defeating China in the global AI race.But to address concerns, the president created an advisory committee in addition to the czar – who he previously promised would be led by a “High IQ” individual. Trump also recently met with AI industry leaders to discuss concerns.On Tuesday, Trump and six executives signed an AI accord at the White House, promising to create internal and external monitors to ensure the technology is used as intended and any safety issues are addressed.Trump had initially created the AI and cryptocurrency czar position when he returned to the White House in January 2025.David Sacks, the venture capitalist and tech businessman, served as the administration’s AI and cryptocurrency czar until March 2026, when he reached his employment limit under his designation as a “special government employee”.Sacks still co-chairs the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.Trump previously floated Clayton’s name as a potential AI czar, telling Axios in September that Clayton is ‘“a good man” and the prospect of appointing him was “a good idea”.