Donald Trump has hit back at growing calls for stronger oversight of artificial intelligence, alleging a "SICK conspiracy" against AI and data centres and insisting his administration is already preventing AI firms from acting harmfully. The row comes as senior Republicans and administration figures push back against regulation despite some AI company chief executives themselves urging a slowdown in the technology's development, and as Democrats press for greater accountability and transparency.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said the White House would meet AI executives by the end of this week or early next, but cautioned against Congress acting "irrationally or haphazardly" for fear of losing America's competitive "edge". Vice-president JD Vance said Americans should not be "scared" of AI and voiced suspicion that AI companies "begging" for regulation could be a "Trojan horse". Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer countered by calling for an all-senators briefing on AI regulation and countering China's AI advances, arguing that innovation "must be coupled with serious guardrails that earn the trust of the American public".