Senator shreds Trump’s ‘super intelligence’ with edgy two-word retort to AI rebrand
Por Eric Garcia — – World RSS Feed
In focus Senator shreds Trump’s ‘super intelligence’ with edgy two-word retort to his AI rebrand
Democrats scoff at Trump’s attempts to rebrand AI, Eric Garcia writes. It’s a preview to how they will take a more aggressive approach if they win the midterms
Wednesday 23 September 2026 23:31 BST
- Bookmark
- Comments Go to comments
Bookmark popover
Removed from bookmarks
Close popover
Become an Independent member to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today.
Already a member?
Log in
Your support helps us to tell the story
Read more Support Now
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference. Read more
P resident Donald Trump’s attempts to rebrand AI as “super intelligence” landed with a thud among Democrats on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. It’s a sign that the president might not have carte blanche authority on AI should they take back the majority next year.
The president is attempting to rebrand artificial intelligence under a new name as he has called the alarmism about the dangers around AI a “hoax.” Trump has also said “the only control or ‘guardrails’ that AI needs is a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT, and the U.S.A. has that, in spades.”
But Democrats brushed off attempts by the president to write off the concerns Americans have around AI.
“F***ing stupid,” Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) told The Independent. “Next question.”
Gallego and a number of Democrats are talking about putting in place guardrails as many in the AI industry have begun to blow the whistle about the need to rein in the industry. Earlier this month, Jacob Coxon, an AI researcher, announced he had resigned from Anthropic, saying “The people building AI earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade.”
open image in galleryRepublicans in the House and Senate writ large, including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), have dismissed fears about AI and Washington’s capacity for oversight.
But the deference Trump receives around AI might change should Democrats win back control of both chambers of Congress. Polling shows Trump’s approval rating nosediving and Democrats have to flip only four Senate seats to win back control of the upper chamber.
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, told The Independent that there would be investigations around AI should his party win back control of the Senate.
“He is just flailing trying to find wins for the election, so put me down as dubious to what he’s talking about,” Wyden said about Trump.
Democrats have been drawing up legislation on AI or releasing reports on the subject since at least 2024, when a bipartisan group of senators led by Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York put out a report on the subject. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) took part in a summit about AI last week with former Trump adviser Steve Bannon in response to concerns about the subject.
open image in gallery“I don’t spend a lot of time trying to understand President Trump,” Sanders told The Independent. “I think he is mentally unbalanced. I think he has not a clue about the problems associated with uncontrolled AI.”
There is potential for collaboration going into the next Congress. Reps. Lori Trahan (D-Mass.) and Jim Obernolte (R-Calif.) have legislation that would create a tiered system of regulation for AI and require independent audits of AI firms.
And polling shows the president out of step with many voters. A Politico survey released last week showed even 61 percent of people who voted for Trump think there is a moderate or significant risk with AI.
“President Trump puts the safety and security of our nation and our families at risk,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) told The Independent. On Wednesday, she and Schumer held a press conference urging Trump to keep AI tools out of China’s hands ahead of the president’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
But even some Republicans rolled their eyes at the president’s words.
“You can call it different names, it still is going to present great opportunity and great challenges and potential threats,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) told The Independent.
More about
Donald TrumpAIMike Johnsonron wydenChuck SchumerAnthropicSteve BannonXi JinpingLisa Murkowski
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Most popular
Popular videos
Bulletin
Read next
Fonte: – World RSS Feed
