President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he intends to sign a new executive order this week to create a single national standard for artificial intelligence. The move aims to strip individual states of their power to regulate the fast-growing technology, a decision that aligns closely with the wishes of major tech companies.
Trump took to his Truth Social platform to declare that the United States needs “only One Rulebook” to remain a global leader in AI. He argued that it is unreasonable to expect American companies to seek “50 Approvals” every time they wish to launch a new product or feature.
This announcement is a major victory for Silicon Valley giants like Google, Meta, and OpenAI. These companies have long argued that navigating a “patchwork” of 50 state laws kills innovation and puts the U.S. at a disadvantage compared to competitors like China. They have urged the White House to set a single federal standard rather than allowing each state to make its own rules.
However, the decision sets up a serious conflict with state leaders from both political parties. Governors and attorneys general argue they need the authority to protect their residents because the federal government has moved too slowly. For instance, Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis recently proposed an AI “bill of rights” to protect consumer privacy. Other states, like California, have already passed laws to stop deepfakes and prevent AI discrimination.
While Trump did not explain exactly how the order will work, reports suggest he might use lawsuits or threaten to cut off federal funding to force states to fall in line. This bypasses Congress, which has been reluctant to block state powers. Just recently, the Senate voted 99-1 against a measure that would have stopped states from regulating AI.
North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson, a Democrat, criticized the idea, noting that Congress shouldn’t block states from creating safety measures if the federal government won’t create them itself. Despite this opposition, Trump appears ready to force a unified system that favors industry speed over local control.
