Trump says he wants to leave AI 'exactly where it is' ahead of Xi summit

US President Donald Trump hosts Chinese President Xi Jinping for a high-stakes summit on September 24, 2026, where artificial intelligence is a primary focus. Trump advocates for a laissez-faire approach, stating he wants to leave AI "exactly where it is" and identifying the Department of Justice as the primary guardrail. While the US and China establish an AI dialogue and a security hotline, tensions remain over intellectual property theft and cyber security risks, even as top tech executives like Sam Altman and Jensen Huang attend the state dinner.

Trump and Xi on AI

• ▪US President Donald Trump stated on September 24, 2026, that he wants to leave artificial intelligence "exactly where it is" and asserted that this is also China's position
• ▪US President Donald Trump stated on September 24, 2026, that artificial intelligence, which he referred to as "Super Intelligence," would be a major topic of discussion with Chinese President Xi Jinping

Trump's domestic AI policy

• ▪US President Donald Trump stated on social media on September 21, 2026, that he would not stifle the growth of artificial intelligence
• ▪US President Donald Trump has opposed state regulation of artificial intelligence, taking a laissez-faire approach and stating that the only guardrails needed are a "strong and smart president."
• ▪US President Donald Trump stated on September 24, 2026, that the United States Department of Justice serves as the country's guardrail for artificial intelligence

Summit logistics and schedule

• ▪US President Donald Trump personally met Chinese President Xi Jinping at Joint Base Andrews military air base outside Washington on September 23, 2026, featuring a military salute and fly-past
• ▪US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to hold a high-stakes summit at the White House on September 24, 2026, marking Xi's first visit to Washington since 2015
• ▪US President Donald Trump and Melania Trump are hosting a state dinner on September 24, 2026, expected to be attended by tech executives including Elon Musk, OpenAI's Sam Altman, and Nvidia's Jensen Huang
• ▪US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to hold meetings covering trade and Taiwan during Xi's September 2026 state visit to Washington
• ▪Chinese President Xi Jinping's wife, Peng Liyuan, accompanied him on his state visit to the United States on September 23, 2026

US concerns over Chinese AI

• ▪US officials express concern that artificial intelligence could enhance China's capability to launch cyberattacks on the United States or crack military codes
• ▪US officials are lodging criticisms with China over Chinese companies copying American artificial intelligence models

US-China AI cooperation

• ▪United States and Chinese officials are setting up a hotline to report national security risks arising from artificial intelligence technology
• ▪United States and Chinese officials are establishing a dialogue about artificial intelligence to address technological competition and risks

Debatable claims

• ▪The US should enact formal state regulations on artificial intelligence
• ▪The US should restrict the export of advanced artificial intelligence chips to China