Trump says Scott Bessent won't be AI czar

Scott Bessent, US treasury secretary, speaks during the first day of the Republican Midterm Convention at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, US, on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026.

Al Drago | Bloomberg | Getty Images

President Donald Trump said Friday that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will not be tapped to be his artificial intelligence czar.

Trump's announcement came after Semafor and Reuters reported that he was considering Bessent for the post.

"Scott Bessent will not be going to be Super Intelligence (SI) Czar," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

"Number One, he doesn't want to. Number Two, he's doing such a great job at Treasury, and that's where I want to keep him!" Trump said. "Why would I ever make such a change?"

Trump in Sept. 19 had said he would form an "AI Force, much like I did Space Force."

"To that end, I will be announcing, in the near future, the AI 'Czar'" the president said on Truth Social that day. "AI is the next Industrial Revolution, or Internet, but will be even larger and more impactful, possibly as much as 25% of our Country's GDP."

"We are leading China, and the rest of the World, and I intend to keep it that way!" Trump said.

This is developing news. Check back for updates.