Trump Names Ex-SEC Chair Clayton to Lead AI Push
Trump Taps Jay Clayton, the SEC Chair Who Sued Ripple, to Lead White House AI Push
President Donald Trump has named Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to lead a new White House effort on artificial intelligence, placing a familiar figure for crypto audiences at the center of a major federal policy initiative.
Trump said the new group, called the “Super Intelligence Force,” will coordinate federal engagement with consumers, public interest groups, religious organizations, critical infrastructure providers and AI companies. The force will report to Trump and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles.
Other members include Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Emil Michael, and Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor.
The announcement follows what Trump described as the “Historic White House Accord on Super Intelligence,” a voluntary agreement signed after AI company leaders met with Trump at the White House last week. Trump said major tech companies “confirmed their responsibilities to the American People” as part of the accord.
The AI force is also set to produce an assessment within 120 days on AI opportunities and risks, including the government’s responsibilities related to security breaches and emerging threats.
Clayton’s appointment is notable for the crypto industry because of his record as U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission chair during Trump’s first term. He oversaw an enforcement-heavy posture toward the sector and brought 57 cases against crypto firms, ICOs and other blockchain projects—an approach he highlighted when leaving the agency. Under Clayton, the SEC filed its high-profile lawsuit against Ripple Labs in December 2020.
The move also underscores how the administration is organizing its AI work after the earlier “AI and crypto czar” role held by David Sacks. Sacks served as a special government employee and left the post in March 2026 after reaching his time limit; he now co-chairs the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
The broader policy backdrop remains unsettled. Congress has yet to pass a comprehensive federal law regulating how AI is developed or used, while the administration is building coordination mechanisms across agencies as AI tools advance and raise security and infrastructure concerns.
