Trump Threatens Jail for AI Chief After 60 Minutes Interview
The president claimed the Justice Department warned a major industry leader to prepare for incarceration after safety concerns were raised.
By Luis Medina ·
President Donald Trump told viewers on 60 Minutes that the Justice Department threatened to arrest an unnamed artificial intelligence executive. The interview aired on November 9, 2026. When asked about warnings from industry leaders regarding model safety, Trump dismissed the risks as manageable. He stated, “I think that the risk is not nearly as real as it, as they talk, and I think the risk can be managed, and it’s managed.”
The president described a specific incident where officials identified someone doing something bad with AI. He said the government called that person strongly and issued a warning. “We called them very strongly and said, ‘Get ready to go to jail. Please give your wife a kiss good night,’” Trump recalled. He noted that the individual complied with the demand after the threat.
Trump refused to identify the company or the leader by name. He described the person as the head of one of the big AI firms. According to the president, the executive totally changed everything following the conversation. Trump also clarified his stance on terminology during the discussion. He admitted that he previously called artificial intelligence a term used by his enemies. In the interview, he used both AI and SI, which he defined as super intelligence. He argued that SI is a better name because the technology is not artificial.
Reporter Ross Douthat asked if Trump would collaborate with Democrats on AI safety measures. The president said he absolutely would. He expressed a preference for guardrails but insisted the United States must maintain its lead. “I don’t mind guardrails, but I don’t want to put us in a deep second position,” he said. Trump contrasted US regulations with China, claiming Chinese leaders operate without formal guardrails. He added that under his administration, the rules are pretty strong, though not quite as strict as what he attributed to President Xi.
The interview highlighted the administration's current approach to regulating the sector. Trump positioned the US as the number one leader in the field. He suggested that strict rules could hinder that advantage. The discussion took place against a backdrop of ongoing debates about the pace of AI development. The president maintained that his team is handling the risks effectively.
