Trump Declares AI War: One Rulebook to Crush State Red Tape

Paul Riverbank, 12/9/2025Trump pushes a federal AI rulebook, challenging state authority and sparking fierce national debate.

It's a move coming directly from the top. On his social platform, Truth Social, Trump was unequivocal. “There must be only One Rulebook if we are going to continue to lead in AI,” he wrote, cutting through the debate that's left Washington in a twist. Trump warned that the alternative—a patchwork of state-level rules—would amount to choking off American innovation before it has a chance to mature. “We are beating ALL COUNTRIES at this point in the race, but that won’t last long if we are going to have 50 States, many of them bad actors, involved in RULES and the APPROVAL PROCESS. THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT ABOUT THIS!” he added, in an unmistakable tone of urgency.

A brief look at the congressional dance over the past months shows how the legislative branch has failed to keep issues like AI under a single umbrella. Attempts to attach a federal moratorium on local AI regulations to larger bills fell flat, while some lawmakers dug in their heels. For representatives from states wary of federal overreach, retaining their right to tailor rules to local needs felt non-negotiable. At the same time, there's growing anxiety about whether dithering over who writes the rules will cost the U.S. its technological edge. With countries like China surging ahead, hesitation could be costly.

Inside Trump's circle, the urgency isn't just posturing. David Sacks, an influential investor now serving as the administration’s AI and Crypto Czar, has taken the lead behind the scenes. The president’s stance has attracted vocal backing from major figures in Silicon Valley. Sam Altman (OpenAI) and Jensen Huang (Nvidia) have both raised alarms about the dangers of letting every state invent its own rulebook—suggesting it would not only gum up the works for businesses, but could expose America to new security risks. Huang didn’t mince words when he pressed Congress in person, warning that leaving key decisions to individual states could “drag this industry to a halt.”

Sundar Pichai of Google chimed in, too, placing numbers on the scale: more than a thousand AI-related bills have surfaced in state legislatures just this year. He posed the question everyone in the tech sector seems to be asking: “How do you cope with those varied regulations (and) compete with countries like China, which are moving fast in this technology?”

But all’s not settled, even under the MAGA banner. Some staunch Trump allies find themselves nervous about the growing coziness between the administration and Big Tech. Critics like Steve Bannon warn of a future where a handful of companies have outsized influence, while ordinary workers—especially young Americans worried about job losses—are left feeling powerless. The issue taps into simmering fears about automation, concentrated wealth, and whether the fruits of progress will be widely shared.

Despite the pushback, Trump’s position appears unwavering. “You can’t expect a company to get 50 Approvals every time they want to do something. THAT WILL NEVER WORK!” he posted, drawing a line in the sand.

Leaks from the White House shed more light on what's coming. According to drafts circulating in DC, the order would set up a special federal task force intent on untangling the growing thicket of state AI laws. States that adopt “overly burdensome” restrictions on AI could find themselves cut off from certain streams of federal funding. Such proposals, almost inevitably, would spark a fresh round of legal battles—debates over interstate commerce, states’ rights, and the power of the executive branch.

The coming order has governors and state legislators bracing for a showdown. Courtrooms may be next, as both sides gear up to argue whether AI governance belongs in Washington or in all fifty statehouses. That fundamental question—national standard or local rules—sits at the heart of an enormously complex fight.

For now, the United States stands at a crossroads. At stake is not just a chunk of market share, but the broader direction the world’s richest and most powerful democracy will take as it faces down the next great technological revolution. Whether Trump’s "One Rulebook" will bring order or ignite further discord remains to be seen. But one thing is already clear: America’s approach to AI regulation will reverberate far beyond its own borders, shaping the future of innovation, jobs, and geopolitical power in the years ahead.

As the country grapples with the furious pace of advancements in artificial intelligence, President Trump has taken matters into his own hands. Instead of waiting for another round of congressional deadlock, this week he declared he would issue an executive order to create a single nationwide regulatory standard for AI—leaving little room for confusion or contradiction among the states.It's a move coming directly from the top. On his social platform, Truth Social, Trump was unequivocal. “There must be only One Rulebook if we are going to continue to lead in AI,” he wrote, cutting through the debate that's left Washington in a twist. Trump warned that the alternative—a patchwork of state-level rules—would amount to choking off American innovation before it has a chance to mature. “We are beating ALL COUNTRIES at this point in the race, but that won’t last long if we are going to have 50 States, many of them bad actors, involved in RULES and the APPROVAL PROCESS. THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT ABOUT THIS!” he added, in an unmistakable tone of urgency.A brief look at the congressional dance over the past months shows how the legislative branch has failed to keep issues like AI under a single umbrella. Attempts to attach a federal moratorium on local AI regulations to larger bills fell flat, while some lawmakers dug in their heels. For representatives from states wary of federal overreach, retaining their right to tailor rules to local needs felt non-negotiable. At the same time, there's growing anxiety about whether dithering over who writes the rules will cost the U.S. its technological edge. With countries like China surging ahead, hesitation could be costly.Inside Trump's circle, the urgency isn't just posturing. David Sacks, an influential investor now serving as the administration’s AI and Crypto Czar, has taken the lead behind the scenes. The president’s stance has attracted vocal backing from major figures in Silicon Valley. Sam Altman (OpenAI) and Jensen Huang (Nvidia) have both raised alarms about the dangers of letting every state invent its own rulebook—suggesting it would not only gum up the works for businesses, but could expose America to new security risks. Huang didn’t mince words when he pressed Congress in person, warning that leaving key decisions to individual states could “drag this industry to a halt.”Sundar Pichai of Google chimed in, too, placing numbers on the scale: more than a thousand AI-related bills have surfaced in state legislatures just this year. He posed the question everyone in the tech sector seems to be asking: “How do you cope with those varied regulations (and) compete with countries like China, which are moving fast in this technology?”But all’s not settled, even under the MAGA banner. Some staunch Trump allies find themselves nervous about the growing coziness between the administration and Big Tech. Critics like Steve Bannon warn of a future where a handful of companies have outsized influence, while ordinary workers—especially young Americans worried about job losses—are left feeling powerless. The issue taps into simmering fears about automation, concentrated wealth, and whether the fruits of progress will be widely shared.Despite the pushback, Trump’s position appears unwavering. “You can’t expect a company to get 50 Approvals every time they want to do something. THAT WILL NEVER WORK!” he posted, drawing a line in the sand.Leaks from the White House shed more light on what's coming. According to drafts circulating in DC, the order would set up a special federal task force intent on untangling the growing thicket of state AI laws. States that adopt “overly burdensome” restrictions on AI could find themselves cut off from certain streams of federal funding. Such proposals, almost inevitably, would spark a fresh round of legal battles—debates over interstate commerce, states’ rights, and the power of the executive branch.The coming order has governors and state legislators bracing for a showdown. Courtrooms may be next, as both sides gear up to argue whether AI governance belongs in Washington or in all fifty statehouses. That fundamental question—national standard or local rules—sits at the heart of an enormously complex fight.For now, the United States stands at a crossroads. At stake is not just a chunk of market share, but the broader direction the world’s richest and most powerful democracy will take as it faces down the next great technological revolution. Whether Trump’s "One Rulebook" will bring order or ignite further discord remains to be seen. But one thing is already clear: America’s approach to AI regulation will reverberate far beyond its own borders, shaping the future of innovation, jobs, and geopolitical power in the years ahead.