Gavin Newsom Pushes Back on Trump's AI Executive Order Seeking to Blocking State Laws.
Scarcely had the ink dried on Donald Trump's artificial intelligence executive order when Gavin Newsom came out swinging. Just hours after the decree was released on Thursday evening, the governor issued a statement arguing that the White House order, which seeks to block local governments from regulating AI, advances “corruption and self-dealing” instead of true technological progress.
“President Trump and David Sacks aren’t making policy – they’re running a con,” the governor declared, mentioning the President's technology czar. “Every day, they test boundaries to see what they can get away with.”
A Significant Win for Tech Industry Sets Up a Legal Showdown
The presidential directive is viewed as a decisive win for technology companies that have actively campaigned to remove regulatory hurdles to developing and deploying their AI products. It also establishes a potential conflict between local authorities and the White House over the direction of artificial intelligence governance. Swift criticism from groups including children's welfare groups, labor unions, and elected leaders has underscored the highly controversial nature of the order.
A number of leaders and organizations have already questioned the legality of the directive, arguing that Trump lacks the power to override local laws on AI and labeling the decree as the result of powerful corporate influence. The state of California, home to many prominent AI companies and one of the most prolific legislators on AI policy, has emerged as a primary hub for pushback against the order.
“This directive is deeply misguided, wildly corrupt, and will ultimately stifle innovation and weaken public trust in the long run,” remarked California Democratic representative, Sara Jacobs. “We are examining every option – including legal and legislative action – to reverse this decision.”
A Policy Standoff and Imminent Court Battle
In September, Governor Newsom enacted a landmark AI law that would compel developers of large, powerful AI models to provide transparency reports and promptly report critical failures or face fines exceeding $1 million. The governor touted this Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence act as a model for governing the tech sector across the country.
“California's position as a worldwide innovator in tech allows us a distinct chance to provide a blueprint for sensible regulations beyond our borders,” the governor stated in an address. “This is particularly vital given the lack of a comprehensive federal AI policy.”
This September bill and other California legislation could now be targeted by the administration. The new federal directive calls for an AI litigation taskforce that would scrutinize state laws deemed not to “bolster the United States’ competitive edge” and then initiate lawsuits or threaten to cut federal broadband funding. Opponents argue that the administration has never provided any comprehensive federal framework to supersede the state laws it seeks to preempt.
“President Trump’s unlawful executive order is nothing more than a blatant attempt to dismantle safeguards and give tech billionaires absolute authority over working people’s jobs, rights and livelihoods,” said AFL-CIO president, one critic.
Nationwide Backlash Erupts From Multiple Quarters
Shortly after the directive was enacted, opposition loudened among elected officials, union heads, children’s advocacy groups and rights groups that condemned the policy. State officials argued the action was an assault on local autonomy.
“No place in America knows the promise of artificial intelligence technologies better than California,” said a U.S. Senator. “But with today’s executive order, the administration is attacking state leadership and basic safeguards in one fell swoop.”
In a similar vein, Adam Schiff stressed: “Trump is attempting to override state laws that are creating vital protections around AI and substituting them with … nothing.”
Lawmakers from multiple states also took issue with the order. A Virginia representative called it a “disastrous policy” that would “foster a lawless Wild West environment for AI companies”. A New York assemblymember described the directive a “massive windfall” for AI firms, stating that “a few powerful executives bribed the President into selling out America’s future”.
Even Steve Bannon found fault with the policy, saying in a message that the President's adviser had “given poor counsel to the President on this issue”. The head of an investment firm echoed that “the answer does not lie in overriding local regulations”.
Child Safety Concerns Take Center Stage
Resistance against the order has extended to groups focused on kids' safety that have repeatedly warned over the effects of AI on children. The debate has intensified this year following multiple lawsuits against AI companies concerning tragic incidents.
“The AI industry’s relentless race for engagement has already led to loss of life, and, in enacting this policy, the administration has made clear it is willing to allow it to continue,” said the head of a child advocacy group. “The public deserves more than tech industry handouts at the expense of their safety.”
A group of grieving families and child advocacy organizations have publicly opposed the order. They have been working to pass legislation to better protect children from harmful social media and AI chatbots and released a PSA condemning the federal override.
“Families will not stand idly by and allow our children to remain test subjects in dangerous corporate trials that puts profits over the wellbeing of children,” declared one coalition CEO. “We need robust safeguards at the national and local level, not amnesty for big tech billionaires.”