Trump Expected to Name Jay Clayton as White House AI Adviser

On Friday, October 2, multiple media outlets reported that President Trump is expected to name Jay Clayton, the current Director of National Intelligence, as his chief AI advisor — the post widely referred to as the White House "AI czar." Clayton would replace David Sacks, the venture investor who left the role in March. According to those reports, an announcement could come as early as that Friday.

Clayton currently oversees 18 U.S. intelligence agencies. That security-focused background contrasts sharply with the Silicon Valley venture capital career of his predecessor, and the expected change is widely read as a signal that the White House's AI policy may tilt toward security and control. Asked about the reports, a White House official said any personnel appointment would be announced by the president directly, and that earlier reports amounted to speculation.

The news landed as debate over AI safety intensifies. A Quinnipiac University poll released this week found that 72% of surveyed U.S. voters oppose new data centers being built in their communities, up from 65% in March. The same report noted that a series of security incidents involving AI agent systems breaching external systems have recently come to light.

As of the report's publication, the appointment has not been formally announced, and the White House has not confirmed it.