Donald Trump and Mike Johnson to meet with tech CEOs on AI next week

President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson are convening a meeting with technology CEOs at the White House on September 29, 2026 to discuss artificial intelligence, a sit-down that could shape the trajectory of AI governance in the US for years to come.

Two visions, one table

Trump has consistently characterized existential AI threats as overblown, pushing back against narratives that position the technology as an imminent danger to humanity. His administration has favored an innovation-first approach, resisting AI-specific regulations that could slow American companies in their race against global competitors.

Johnson, meanwhile, has been striking a more nuanced tone. The House Speaker has advocated for self-regulation among AI companies, paired with what he calls a “measured federal response.” In mid-September, Johnson signaled his intention to engage directly with AI leaders to discuss accountability frameworks that wouldn’t amount to heavy-handed government interference.

The specific roster of attending CEOs hasn’t been disclosed. But leaders from OpenAI and Anthropic, two of the most prominent frontier AI labs, have been vocal about the risks associated with rapid AI development, making their potential presence at such a meeting significant.

The regulatory landscape

Internationally, the US approach stands in sharp contrast to China’s regulatory model, which has imposed content labeling requirements and algorithm rules on AI systems. The Trump administration has positioned the US as a competitor to China’s tech ambitions, framing minimal domestic regulation as a strategic advantage rather than a gap in governance.

The summit is part of a broader initiative the administration has branded the “Golden Age,” a marketing push that emphasizes AI as central to American economic leadership.

What the tech industry wants

Self-regulation, the approach Johnson has endorsed, is the tech industry’s preferred outcome. Companies can set their own standards, adjust them as the technology evolves, and avoid the rigidity of federal mandates.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Diego Almada Lopez. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.