Trump Rules Out Bessent as 'Super Intelligence' Czar, Says He's Staying at Treasury

President Trump on Friday shut down speculation that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent could be tapped as his artificial intelligence czar, declaring the Cabinet member will stay right where he is.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Bessent will not serve as the "Super Intelligence (SI) Czar," a nod to the president's proposed rebranding of AI, because Bessent "doesn't want to."

"Number Two, he's doing such a great job at Treasury, and that's where I want to keep him!" the president wrote. "Why would I ever make such a change? Just more Fake News!"

Several media reports this week had suggested Bessent's name was being floated for the job. Trump said last week he was creating the position to oversee the technology's development.

The president originally called the post "AI czar" before saying earlier this week that the government should refer to the technology as "super intelligence," or "SI." Whoever lands the role is expected to help lead a new "AI Force." Trump likened the proposed body to the Space Force, which he established during his first term, but did not reveal how the new agency would operate.

Bessent has emerged this year as one of the administration's most outspoken voices on AI, balancing support for American competitiveness in the field with the need for guardrails as new cybersecurity risks emerge.

After Anthropic released its Mythos model last spring, Bessent argued that the administration's pro-industry approach does not rule out a focus on safety. That openness to safety protocols sets him slightly apart from the commander in chief, who has largely brushed aside concerns about AI and the need for regulation.
The Treasury chief has also played a role in managing U.S. talks with China over AI.

Ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's meeting with Trump this week, Bessent spoke publicly about a U.S. proposal for a notification system between Washington and Beijing, as concerns grow over the technology's risks to humanity.

Bessent also took a hard line against China in July. After the U.S. found that Chinese AI companies could be stealing proprietary information from American private models, he threatened sanctions over the allegations.

The czar role has a predecessor. Venture capitalist David Sacks previously served as Trump's AI and crypto czar, but he left the White House earlier this year when his special government employee term expired. Sacks remains an influential voice in Trump's ear and co-chairs the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), which advises the president on policy.

For now, it remains unclear who Trump is seriously weighing for the new position.

When he announced the role last week, the president offered one requirement for would-be candidates.

"Only High I.Q. individuals need to apply!" Trump said.

He did not explain how the new post might differ from the one Sacks previously held.

What is clear is that Bessent will not be the one filling it. With the president publicly praising his work at Treasury and dismissing the reports as "Fake News," the search for the administration's first "Super Intelligence" czar continues.