Trump Expected to Appoint Intelligence Chief Jay Clayton as AI Tsar

US President Donald Trump is expected to designate Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton as his senior adviser on artificial intelligence, a role Trump has previously described as "AI tsar," according to a source familiar with the decision. Clayton, who already leads 18 US intelligence agencies as the country's top spy, is expected to retain that position alongside the anticipated AI portfolio. When questioned about Clayton's selection, a White House official responded in a statement that any personnel announcement would come directly from the president, adding that reporting before such an announcement is baseless speculation. Neither the White House nor Clayton has publicly confirmed the appointment. The expected move would place the nation's senior intelligence official at the center of the administration's AI policy apparatus, a signal of how closely the White House intends to link artificial intelligence strategy with national security. The position, referred to by Trump as "AI tsar," would give Clayton a coordinating role over federal AI initiatives while he continues to oversee the intelligence community. The source spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision has not been formally announced. No timeline for an official announcement has been provided, and the White House has not indicated when or whether it will confirm the appointment.