Full Breakdown
Trump Dismisses Calls for an AI Slowdown Amid Growing Safety Concerns
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Former President Donald Trump downplayed the existential risks raised by leading AI researchers, asserting that the United States must maintain its lead over China in the technology race.
Background: AI Safety Debate
The controversy intensified after Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei published an essay urging stronger safeguards, likening AI’s potential to a medical breakthrough that could both cure disease and pose lethal threats. The same week, Anthropic released a threat-intelligence report noting that malicious actors had attempted to exploit its Claude models.
Official Statements & Responses
- Donald Trump emphasized competitive advantage over China and dismissed calls for regulation, suggesting the U.S. could still “put guardrails” while maintaining momentum.
- Elon Musk (xAI) and Sam Altman (OpenAI) publicly supported Amodei’s call for a slower pace, aligning with the researchers’ safety concerns.
- Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, described AI risks as “deeply concerning” and signaled a forthcoming markup on bipartisan legislation aimed at curbing biological and nuclear threats from AI.
- Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Florida) urged Congress to convene a special session on AI, citing the technology’s societal impact.
Criticism & Opposition
Public sentiment also appears hostile: an NBC News Decision Desk poll found that 69 % of respondents oppose the construction of new AI data centers in their communities, a factor that has entered the 2026 midterm election discourse.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Whoever wins AI wins, and we can put guardrails, we can do this and that, but I think you have a lot of negative forces that are bringing it up that shouldn't be bringing it up and they're bringing up things that won't happen,” — Caption Hide Caption Trump, tech ceos president
- “They are racing straight to self-improving superintelligence and gambling with our lives,” — Jacob Coxon, anthropic researcher
- “Carefully wielded, AI can be the latest in a long line of technological miracles that have uplifted and ennobled humanity,” — Dario Amodei, after anthropic CEO