Trump to Sign Executive Order This Week Seeking One National AI Rule

Dec 8 (Reuters) — U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he will sign an executive order this week intended to establish a single national rule for artificial intelligence, a step the technology industry has long urged to avoid a patchwork of state laws.

White House Push for Federal Standard

The move would represent a victory for major technology companies that have developed close ties with the White House, but it is likely to provoke concern from state leaders of both parties who argue they need authority to protect residents.

"There must be only One Rulebook if we are going to continue to lead in AI... I will be doing a ONE RULE Executive Order this week. You can’t expect a company to get 50 Approvals every time they want to do something," Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social.

Trump did not provide specifics. Reuters reported last month that White House aides were considering an order that could seek to preempt state AI laws by enabling federal lawsuits and by withholding certain federal funds from states that enact conflicting regulations.

Industry Support and State Pushback

Major AI and technology firms — including OpenAI, Alphabet's Google, Meta Platforms and venture firm Andreessen Horowitz — have urged a national approach, arguing that a 50-state patchwork of differing rules would slow innovation and risk allowing other countries, notably China, to gain an edge in AI development.

At the same time, governors and state attorneys general from both parties have emphasized the need for state-level guardrails. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently proposed legislation described as an "AI Bill of Rights," covering data privacy, parental controls and consumer protections.

Several states have already enacted targeted laws: bans on using AI to create nonconsensual sexual imagery, prohibitions on unauthorized political deepfakes, and measures intended to prevent AI-driven discrimination. California, home to many major AI developers, will require large AI companies to disclose plans to mitigate potential catastrophic risks.

Last month, Trump asked Congress to add language to an upcoming defense bill that would block state AI laws. The idea has drawn pushback from Republican and Democratic state lawmakers and attorneys general. "Congress can’t fail to create real safeguards and then block the states from stepping up," North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson said.

Earlier this year the Senate rejected an effort to bar states from passing AI rules, voting 99-1 against a measure that would have restricted state action — a sign of the strong bipartisan resistance from states and consumer groups.

Reporting: Bhargav Acharya in Toronto; Editing: Doina Chiacu, Chizu Nomiyama and Andrea Ricci.