Donald Trump said in a social media message that Scott Bessent will remain in charge of the Department of the Treasury, rejecting reports that the secretary was a candidate for a new AI leadership role. Trump made the statement just days after announcing an AI force and a senior post tied to “Super Intelligence,” or SI.
Bessent had emerged as a leading candidate for the post. Trump dismissed that possibility, saying Bessent did not want the job. He also praised the secretary’s work at Treasury and said he wanted him to stay.
Before Trump’s latest statement, Bessent had called reports of a possible appointment probably fake news and said President Trump was the sole AI czar.
The planned AI structure has no confirmed leader. The decision also blocks a possible move for one of the administration’s senior economic officials, as artificial intelligence gains attention in national policy and international competition.
Reuters reported on September 22 that Bessent was under consideration and that no decision had been made.
Trump called the reports false news and questioned why he would make such a change. His position was direct: Bessent will not lead “Super Intelligence,” and his Treasury assignment will not change. Trump said Bessent was doing well at Treasury and should stay there.
The original announcement came a week earlier. Trump created an “AI force” to promote the development of the technology. Reuters and NBC, along with CBS and the BBC, reported on September 19 that he had announced the “AI Force” and planned to appoint an AI coordinator, or “czar.” At the time, no name or operating details were provided.
The Associated Press reported that the administration directed US diplomats to use “super intelligence” instead of “artificial intelligence” in its messaging. The terminology shift reflects the move from the announced AI Force to the proposed “SI czar” role.
The plan does not identify who would oversee the SI role.
Trump’s clarification came during the United Nations General Assembly, following a two-day state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping. The events have put debate over AI regulation alongside the push to develop the technology.
The choice of a US AI leader now carries added political weight.
Bessent’s views on regulation are part of his public role in the administration’s AI discussions. CNBC reported that he said AI developers “need to take responsibility for themselves” rather than depend on a federal liability shield. That stance turned the reported appointment into a policy question as well as a personnel matter.
As earlier coverage showed in another White House dispute, the administration’s public messaging can quickly become part of the story. This message denies a personnel rumor while publicly defending Bessent’s position at Treasury.
Bessent is not taking the reported AI position, and Trump says the secretary does not want it. The president expects him to remain at the Treasury Department. The AI force has been announced, but its leadership remains unsettled. For now, one prominent name is out of consideration, with Trump opting for continuity at Treasury over a high-profile move into the administration’s emerging AI structure.
