Trump’s AI Power Grab: Silencing States, Empowering Silicon Valley

In what critics are calling one of the most dangerous power plays in tech policy history, former President Donald Trump is pushing for a 10-year nationwide ban on any U.S. state regulating artificial intelligence. At first glance, the move is being sold as a way to prevent “regulatory chaos” and protect innovation from a messy web of conflicting state laws. But peel back the layers, and it becomes painfully clear: this isn’t about innovation, it’s about control. Control over who gets to write the rules for the most powerful technology on Earth.

The proposal, backed aggressively by major tech giants like Microsoft, Google, Meta, and Amazon, would strip states of their ability to respond to local harms caused by AI. It would silence efforts already underway to combat algorithmic bias, facial recognition abuse, and the spread of deepfake misinformation. Microsoft’s own chief scientist, Dr. Eric Horvitz, has publicly opposed the ban, warning that locking out state oversight could backfire by slowing responsible innovation and compromising public safety. But even as Horvitz voices caution, Microsoft and its peers are quietly lobbying behind the scenes to make the ban law.

The hypocrisy is staggering. Big Tech says it wants “safe” and “trustworthy” AI, but not if that safety comes from regulators outside Washington. Critics say this is less about efficiency and more about insulating tech companies from accountability. By federalizing control over AI, these corporations gain an easier battlefield, one they can influence with lobbying dollars, backroom deals, and campaign contributions.

What’s even more alarming is how the proposed ban is being snuck into a sweeping federal budget bill, bypassing serious public debate. Republicans like Senator Ted Cruz are even suggesting that federal broadband funds be withheld from states that refuse to comply, a coercive move that ties basic infrastructure to political loyalty.

This isn’t just about algorithms or automation. It’s about whether democracy still matters in the face of trillion-dollar tech giants. When states like California, New York, and Illinois try to protect their citizens from AI-driven harm, why should Washington get to shut them down? Why should voters lose their voices in how one of the most disruptive technologies in human history is governed?

Trump’s plan isn’t bold leadership. It’s a Silicon Valley wish list disguised as federal policy, and if it passes, the cost won’t just be paid in code, but in lives, livelihoods, and lost accountability.