President Donald Trump is heading into the 2026 election year vowing to pull out all the stops to promote artificial intelligence — just as American voters are starting to voice some doubts.

The executive order is the latest in a series of attempts by the Trump administration to hold back state-level AI rules. But many Republicans are also uncomfortable with the effort.

Congressional Republicans recently decided not to include a Trump-backed plan to block state AI laws in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), although it could be included in other legislation. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has also failed to get congressional backing for legislation that would punish states with AI laws.

As the Trump administration tells it, artificial intelligence is on the verge of ushering in a new economic boom like that the US enjoyed in the 1990s, when real incomes climbed, the unemployment rate tumbled to the lowest in decades, stocks surged and fiscal deficits turned into surpluses.

On Dec. 11, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that aims to block states from enacting and enforcing their own laws regulating artificial intelligence. Here's what to know.

Justice Department will challenge state laws on artificial intelligence and federal technology grants could be withheld.

U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order seeking to bar state laws on artificial intelligence that he says slow innovation will face political and legal opposition from states seeking to preserve their right to regulate the rapidly growing technology.

President Trump pushes back on a Wall Street Journal report saying China’s huge power grid gives it an AI edge, insisting new U.S. data centers will make their own energy.

“President Trump’s Executive Order on Eliminating State Law Obstructing National AI Policy is an important step to ensuring there are clear and consistent rules that can keep Americans safe while allowing innovation to thrive,” Moore said. “States will still play a vital role, but a strong federal standard is essential to advancing AI innovation.”

Governor Gavin Newsom visited Pacific Palisades and Altadena, meeting with fire victims and those helping in the rebuild. He also spoke about AI.