Trump Delays AI Executive Order on Model Reviews, Citing China Competition

The White House has postponed the signing of an executive order aimed at increasing government oversight of new artificial intelligence models, according to multiple reports. President Donald Trump told reporters on Thursday that he delayed the action because he objected to certain aspects of the directive, specifically that it could impede American competitiveness against China in AI development. The order had been in the works for weeks, with AI company executives already invited to a signing ceremony and trade groups briefed on its contents.

The postponed directive would have established a voluntary federal review process for advanced AI models, requiring companies to submit their products for government scrutiny up to 90 days before public release. Agencies including the Treasury Department, the National Security Agency, and the White House's cyber office were slated to conduct these reviews. The White House Office of the National Cyber Director held a briefing for AI-focused companies on Tuesday to discuss the planned order. The postponement was first reported by Axios. No new date for signing has been announced, leaving the regulatory landscape for frontier AI models uncertain.