Fact Check: Did Trump announce a ban on artificial intelligence in a social media post?
WASHINGTON, DC: A claim has been circulating on social media platforms that President Donald Trump announced that his administration would impose a complete ban on artificial intelligence (AI), triggering panic and criticism against the president. Let us trace the origins of the viral claim and fact-check it.
Claim: Donald Trump announced a 'complete and total ban' on the use of artificial intelligence
The claim surfaced in the form of a screenshot, claiming to show a post by Donald Trump on his official Truth Social handle.
The alleged post states, “Many people are saying that they don't like 'Artificial Intelligence' or what I like to call 'A.I., ' so my administration and me have decided on a complete and total ban on using any form of ‘Intelligence' in the future. THANK YOU FOR PAYING ATTENTION TO ME, PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.”
The screenshot has triggered concerns and speculation among netizens, with many appearing to believe the post is real, while others remained skeptical and questioned its authenticity.
Fact Check: Donald Trump made no such post
The screenshot is fake, and Trump has made no such post on any of his social media. According to the screenshot, the post is dated June 26, but a search on his Truth Social profile showed no such post from that date.
A search on Google to check whether the president made any such comments outside of social media yielded no relevant results, which, if true, would have been widely covered by prominent news outlets.
A fact check by Grok stated, “This is fake. Donald Trump did not post or say anything about banning 'intelligence' or ‘A.I.' in this way. The image is a satirical meme designed to mock his speaking style and repetitive phrasing. No such statement exists from him on X or elsewhere.”
Donald Trump says AI is bigger than the internet
In a recent interview with Axios, Trump shared his vision for AI's potential while also revealing that his administration recently had concerns about AI company Anthropic.
The 80-year-old suggested that artificial intelligence could transform industries ranging from healthcare to science while also creating new national security challenges.
Trump made a bold assertion while discussing the future of artificial intelligence. "It's bigger than the internet," he said.
He noted that the influence of AI could eventually surpass the impact the internet has had on communication, business, and everyday life.
According to him, the technology has the potential to dramatically change how people work and solve problems across multiple industries.
