President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to appoint Jay Clayton, the current Director of National Intelligence, as the administration's AI czar. Reports from major news outlets on October 2, 2026, indicate that Clayton would retain his existing intelligence responsibilities while taking on the new role.
Clayton was confirmed as the Director of National Intelligence on July 28, 2026, following a 51-47 Senate vote. His background includes serving as chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission from 2017 to 2020 and as US Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 2025 to 2026.
The administration has previously expressed a preference for US dominance in artificial intelligence over strict regulatory frameworks. Clayton has publicly stated that he opposes pauses in AI model development and views super intelligence as a matter of national security.
While Trump suggested in late September 2026 that Clayton would be a strong candidate for the position, the appointment has not been officially confirmed. It remains unclear how this role would interact with the proposed creation of an AI Force agency.
