President Donald Trump is expected to name Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton AI czar, the top artificial-intelligence policy role in the White House, according to reporting confirmed by Reuters on October 2, 2026. CBS News first reported the pick on October 1. The appointment would make the nation’s top spy chief the administration’s lead voice on AI policy at a moment of growing bipartisan alarm about advanced AI systems.
Jay Clayton testifies during his Senate confirmation process to become Director of National Intelligence earlier this year. Photo: NBC News
The reporting casts Clayton as the expected choice for a position Trump himself has called “AI czar,” though the White House has declined to confirm the decision. A White House official told Reuters: “Any personnel announcement will be announced directly by the president. Any reporting until then is baseless speculation.”
Expected Jay Clayton AI Czar Appointment Still Unconfirmed
According to Reuters, a source familiar with the decision said Trump is expected to tap Clayton for the AI czar role. If the reported pick goes forward, Clayton would take on AI policy oversight while keeping his current post overseeing the 18 U.S. intelligence agencies, Reuters reported.
Until the president announces the decision himself, the appointment remains expected — not official. Neither Trump nor the White House has issued any confirmation, and the administration’s only on-the-record comment dismissed advance reporting as “baseless speculation.”
Who Is Jay Clayton?
Clayton, a former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission and a former Manhattan federal prosecutor, brings a Wall Street-regulator background rather than a Silicon Valley pedigree to the expected role. Trump nominated him to lead the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the Senate confirmed him, making him the nation’s top intelligence official.
Jay Clayton, who served as SEC chairman before becoming Director of National Intelligence. Photo: WealthManagement.com
As Director of National Intelligence, Clayton oversees 18 U.S. intelligence agencies. That experience at the intersection of national security and global competition would shape the expected AI czar portfolio, which is likely to cover AI safety, competition with rival nations, and oversight of powerful AI models.
Jay Clayton Would Be Trump’s Second AI Czar of His Second Term
Clayton would be the second person expected to hold the AI czar title under Trump’s second term. Venture capitalist David Sacks held the role early in the administration before leaving the White House, though he continues to advise the president and attended a Tuesday meeting with Trump and industry executives, according to Reuters.
Last month, Trump said he planned to appoint a new “AI czar” and create an “AI force,” offering no details about either initiative at the time, Reuters reported. The reported Clayton pick would answer the first of those two pledges.
What the Reported Jay Clayton AI Czar Move Signals for AI Policy
The reported choice of Clayton — a national-security chief and former top financial regulator — signals a security-first, regulatory posture for AI policy rather than the Silicon Valley-facing lens of his predecessor. That reading is informed interpretation of the personnel choice, not a White House statement.
Jay Clayton during his tenure as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Photo: WealthManagement.com
The expected appointment lands amid a burst of AI-related alarm in Washington. AI researchers have warned that advanced AI systems could threaten humanity within a decade, bipartisan lawmakers have raised concerns, and the Federal Trade Commission has newly opened a probe of rogue AI agents, according to Reuters. For related coverage of that federal probe, see our report: the FTC’s investigation into OpenAI and Anthropic over rogue AI agents.
FAQ
Has Trump named Jay Clayton AI czar?
No — not officially. Trump is expected to name Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton as his AI czar, according to a source familiar with the decision reported by CBS News and confirmed by Reuters. The White House has declined to confirm, so the pick remains reported, not announced.
Would Jay Clayton keep his intelligence role if he becomes AI czar?
According to Reuters’ reporting, Clayton is expected to keep his current role as Director of National Intelligence, overseeing the 18 U.S. intelligence agencies, while taking on AI policy oversight. The dual role is reported, not confirmed.
Who was Trump’s first AI czar?
Venture capitalist David Sacks held the AI czar role early in Trump’s second term before leaving the White House. He continues to advise the president and attended a recent meeting with Trump and industry executives, according to Reuters.
Why is the expected Jay Clayton AI czar pick significant?
Clayton is a former SEC chairman and Manhattan federal prosecutor who now leads the U.S. intelligence community. The reported pick signals a national-security and regulatory posture for AI policy, coming the same week the FTC opened a probe into AI companies and amid researcher warnings about advanced AI risks.
Sources: A News (citing Reuters, Oct 2, 2026); Business Standard (Oct 2, 2026).
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