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Trump Eyes Jay Clayton for AI Czar: Who is This DNI Pick?
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Firstpost•30-09-2026, 18:02
Trump Eyes Jay Clayton for AI Czar: Who is This DNI Pick?
- •Donald Trump indicated his Director of National Intelligence, Jay Clayton, is a strong candidate for the AI czar role, following Trump's announcement to appoint an AI czar and create a task force.
- •Clayton, a lawyer, previously served as the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chairman during Trump's first term, leading the agency through global financial disruptions and focusing on cryptocurrency cases.
- •As US Attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), Clayton oversaw the indictment of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro for drug trafficking and reviewed Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
- •During his Senate confirmation hearing for DNI, Clayton drew attention for his reluctance to directly state that Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election, instead emphasizing certification and electoral process improvements.
- •Republicans praised Clayton as an "outstanding choice" for DNI, while Democrats, though acknowledging him as a "capable public servant," raised questions about the transition at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
Key Questions Answered
US President Donald Trump indicated that Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Jay Clayton would be a good choice for the role of AI czar.
Jay Clayton is a lawyer who worked at Apollo Global Management and Sullivan & Cromwell, taught at Wharton, and served as SEC chairman during Trump's first term. He later served as US Attorney for the Southern District of New York and was nominated as DNI.
President Donald Trump stated that Scott Bessent would not become the AI czar because Bessent did not want the position and was already doing a great job as US Treasury Secretary.
