POLITICO Tech Why Trump is fighting states over AI
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Dec 11, 2025 Brendan Bordelon and Gabby Miller, both POLITICO technology reporters, dive into Donald Trump's recent announcement to ban state AI laws through an executive order. They explore how this shift aims to placate Silicon Valley while sparking potential legal conflicts over federal authority. Discussions highlight the industry's preference for light federal regulations versus stricter state laws. They also analyze whether state governments will still pursue AI legislation and the impact on Congress amidst upcoming midterm elections.
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White House Seeks National AI Standard
- The White House moved to preempt state AI laws by planning an executive order after congressional efforts stalled.
- The draft EO would create a single federal standard and likely block state rules, according to Brendan Bordelon and Gabby Miller.
Industry Wants A Friendly Federal Lock-In
- Industry prefers light-touch federal rules to avoid tougher state laws later and to lock in certainty.
- Tech lobbyists are pushing for compromise rules on frontier AI and kid safety in exchange for preemption.
AI Treated As A Geopolitical Issue
- Tech frames AI preemption as different because of national security and the US-China race.
- But previous tech fights show industry can shape state patchworks to its advantage, as with privacy laws.