US President Donald Trump on Friday rejected reports that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent could become the administration’s artificial intelligence adviser or “AI czar,” saying Bessent will remain in his current Cabinet position.
Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social that Bessent would not become the administration’s “Super Intelligence” czar, referring to his preferred term for artificial intelligence.
The president said Bessent was not interested in taking the position and praised his performance as Treasury secretary. Trump questioned why he would move Bessent from his current role and described the reports as “fake news.”
Trump’s comments came after US news outlet Semafor reported, citing three people familiar with the matter, that Bessent was among the leading candidates being considered for the AI position.
Other names reportedly under consideration include Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and a longtime Trump technology adviser, as well as Scott Kupor, director of the Office of Personnel Management.
Kupor previously left venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz to join the Trump administration.
Trump announced last Saturday that he planned to appoint an “AI czar” and establish an “AI force,” but provided few details about how the initiative would operate.
The planned appointments come as Washington continues to debate AI regulation, liability and governance amid the technology’s rapid development.
PRESS UPDATE