Trump Declares No US-China Joint AI Venture, Citing Security Risks
At the launch of America.gov, the U.S. president rejected the prospect of a partnership with China to build AI technology. “Giving the Chinese a lot of our secrets is not something we can do,” Trump warned, underscoring America’s intent to stay ahead in the AI race.
The remarks followed President Xi Jinping’s recent visit to the White House, after which the two leaders announced a new AI dialogue and a communications channel to prevent misunderstandings.
Trump emphasized that the U.S. is “leading by a lot” in AI and that any joint effort would undermine that lead. “If we do that, we're giving a lot of secrets that we have that China would want to have,” he added, framing the decision as a safeguard against a strategic rival.
Critics argue that joint global cooperation could help set common safety standards for AI. However, domestically, Trump's administration has dismissed safety concerns as a hoax, drawing parallels with so‑called “global warming” skeptics.
Public opinion shows rising anxiety about AI’s potential dangers, with a recent poll reporting that two in three Americans see a moderate risk of harm. Yet Trump’s supporters remain divided, with 44 per cent expressing a preference for pausing AI development.
In interviews, Trump reiterated that America must maintain its technical edge, stating, “We’re leading now over China and everyone else, and I want to keep it that way.”
Image: Getty Images
