President Donald Trump canceled the signing of a sweeping AI executive order on May 21, just hours before the ceremony was set to take place at the White House. The planned framework would have created a voluntary system for developers of advanced AI models to submit their products for government review before public release, with agencies like the NSA and Treasury handling the vetting over up to 90 days.
Trump pulled the order after concluding that certain elements could slow down US innovation as the race against China in AI development intensifies. Invitations had already gone out to executives from leading AI labs, making the last-minute cancellation all the more awkward.
The postponement came after significant pushback from some of the most powerful figures in tech, including xAI founder Elon Musk, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and David Sacks, the administration's Special Advisor for AI and Crypto. Sacks' dual role in AI and crypto policy is particularly notable, as his portfolio sits at the intersection of deregulation enthusiasm and emerging technology policy.
Since returning to office in January 2025, Trump has pushed to strip back regulatory barriers around emerging technologies, including AI and digital assets. Earlier actions included repealing AI safety-focused regulations and establishing a national AI policy framework designed to override state-level laws.