U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he will create an "AI Force" modeled on the Space Force and appoint an AI czar, rejecting calls from lawmakers and industry executives to slow the development of frontier-level artificial intelligence models.

Trump made both announcements in a Truth Social post, without saying what the AI Force would do, how it would be funded or where it would sit in the federal government.

"I am forming the AI Force, much like I did Space Force, which has been a tremendous SUCCESS, in my First Term," Trump said. "To that end, I will be announcing, in the near future, the AI 'Czar' - Only High I.Q. individuals need apply!"

The president ruled out new constraints on AI companies in the same post, saying existing law already covers the problem.

"We will not in any way hinder or stifle the Growth of this incredible Industry. Rather, we will cherish it, help it, and watch over it, as it grows!" Trump stated. "However, we will also be looking for BAD, and we can do that, very easily, with our already existing Criminal and Civil Justice System."

Trump also said AI "is the next Industrial Revolution, or Internet, but will be even larger and more impactful, possibly as much as 25% of our Country's GDP."

The vacant czar job

Venture capitalist and All In podcast hostDavid Sacks held the White House AI and crypto czar role from the start of Trump's second term until March, and the administration had not planned to fill the seat again. Sacks told Bloomberg at the time Sacks had “used up” his 130 days as a special government employee. Sacks remains a co-chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.

Trump gave no timeline for naming a successor beyond "the near future," and his post did not reveal whether the AI Force will be a military branch like the Space Force, a White House office, or some other organization.

Pressure to regulate AI from several directions

Calls to regulate frontier AI development have intensified in recent weeks, with concrete proposals coming from state governments, Congress, and the industry itself.

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on Friday requiring AI companies in the state, which includes Anthropic and OpenAI, to build a "kill switch," and urged Congress and Trump to adopt California's framework. Former President Barack Obama, also speaking Friday, told Democratic candidates they need a clear plan on AI policy.

Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Greg Casar introduced legislation this month that would ban the creation of artificial superintelligence outright, with violations punishable by up to 20 years in prison. OpenAI called on Congress for federal AI rules on Sept. 10, and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Elon Musk have each said they wish to see a slower pace of AI development at the frontier level.

Trump has rejected that case for weeks. On Sept. 14 he wrote that "AI taking over the World, destroying Humanity, and all other things bad, is a HOAX," and that "the only control or 'guardrails' that AI needs is a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT." He called fears of artificial superintelligence a hoax again on Saturday.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Latent on the composition of the forthcoming AI Force.