Trump's Executive Order Aims to Centralize AI Regulation, Provoking State Resistance

Sat Dec 13 2025 16:23:01 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

President Trump has signed an executive order that seeks to prevent states from implementing their own artificial intelligence regulations, a move that has sparked significant backlash from state leaders, particularly in California.

In a striking move to centralize artificial intelligence regulation, President Trump signed an executive order blocking states from enforcing their own AI rules. The decision is viewed as a win for major tech companies seeking uniform national standards but has drawn criticism from state leaders like California's Governor Gavin Newsom, who claims it undermines state rights and consumer protections. The debate highlights the tension between federal and state regulatory powers in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at blocking states from enforcing their own artificial intelligence (AI) regulations.

We want to have one central source of approval, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday.

This order will empower the Trump administration to push back against the most onerous state rules, according to White House AI adviser David Sacks, who noted that the government would not oppose regulations aimed at children's safety.

The executive order marks a significant victory for technology giants advocating for unified US-wide AI legislation, which could enhance America's competitiveness in the fast-evolving industry.

AI company leaders argue that state-level regulations could hinder innovation and jeopardize the U.S. position in the global race against China, with billions being invested in AI development.

However, the announcement has faced pushback. California, home to many major tech firms, has its own AI regulations in place, leading Governor Gavin Newsom to condemn the executive order. He accused Trump of corruption, stating, Today, President Trump continued his ongoing grift in the White House, attempting to enrich himself and his associates, with a new executive order seeking to preempt state laws protecting Americans from unregulated AI technology.

Earlier this year, Newsom enacted legislation requiring major AI developers to outline strategies to mitigate risks associated with their models, a framework that he believes could serve as a national standard.

Other states, including Colorado and New York, have similarly adopted laws regulating AI, which critics of Trump's order argue are essential due to the lack of federal guardrails.

Julie Scelfo, from the advocacy group Mothers Against Media Addiction, stated, Stripping states from enacting their own AI safeguards undermines states' basic rights to establish sufficient guardrails to protect their residents.