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President Donald Trump announced on October 4, 2026, that Jay Clayton, then Director of National Intelligence and a former SEC chair, would lead a new federal group called the “Super Intelligence Force.” The Associated Press described its purpose as coordinating federal engagement on AI; the announcement names officials from the FTC, Pentagon and Office of Personnel Management, but does not set out a detailed budget, regulatory mandate or operating schedule.
What is Trump’s Super Intelligence Force?
It is a newly announced federal coordinating group intended to organize the government’s engagement on artificial intelligence. Trump said it would be led by Clayton and report to him and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles. The Associated Press reported the following additional members:
- Andrew Ferguson, chairman of the Federal Trade Commission
- Emil Michael, a Pentagon technology official
- Scott Kupor, director of the Office of Personnel Management
The announcement identifies a coordination and outreach purpose, not specific regulatory powers, individual assignments, funding or an implementation timetable. Trump described the goal in a social-media post, as reported by AP, as “to ensure that America continues to lead the World in Super Intelligence, which many say is bigger than the Industrial Revolution, and the Internet, and will protect the interests, and improve the lives, of all Americans.” (Associated Press, October 4, 2026)
How does the task force relate to the “Super Intelligence” order?
The group’s name follows a White House terminology order issued five days earlier. Executive Order 14434, “Inaugurating the Era of Super Intelligence,” was signed on September 29, 2026. It directs executive departments and agencies, to the maximum extent permitted by law, to use “Super Intelligence” and “SI” instead of “Artificial Intelligence” and “AI” in specified official communications and other non-statutory documents. The order states that, initially, the terms refer to technologies and systems covered by the existing statutory definition of AI for purposes of implementing the order. (White House, Executive Order 14434)
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The order does not itself establish a new statutory category. It directs the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology to submit proposed legislative language for a federal definition within 60 days. That terminology policy and the task force are related, but serve different functions: the order governs specified executive-branch language and calls for a definition proposal, while the task force is described as a coordination and engagement group.
Why is Clayton’s SEC and Ripple history relevant?
Clayton chaired the Securities and Exchange Commission from May 2017 through December 2020. During his tenure, the SEC announced on December 22, 2020, that it had filed a complaint against Ripple Labs and executives Christian Larsen and Bradley Garlinghouse. The SEC alleged that they raised more than $1.3 billion through an unregistered XRP offering. That figure and description are the agency’s allegations in its complaint, not a summary of the case’s later proceedings or outcome. (SEC, December 22, 2020; ODNI, August 3, 2026)
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The connection is a matter of chronology: Clayton led the SEC when the agency filed the Ripple case, and Trump has now named him to lead a federal AI coordination effort. The announcement does not state that his SEC history, or the Ripple matter, informed his selection.
What happened, and when?
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| May 2017–December 2020 | Clayton served as SEC chair, according to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. |
| December 22, 2020 | The SEC announced its complaint and allegations against Ripple Labs and two executives. |
| August 3, 2026 | Clayton was sworn in as Director of National Intelligence. |
| September 29, 2026 | Trump signed Executive Order 14434 on federal “Super Intelligence” terminology and a proposed definition. |
| October 2, 2026 | Reuters reported that Clayton was expected to receive an AI adviser role; the White House said personnel announcements would come directly from the president and characterized earlier reporting as “baseless speculation.” |
| October 4, 2026 | AP reported Trump’s public announcement naming Clayton to lead the task force. |
The October 2 report was advance coverage of an expected appointment; the October 4 report followed Trump’s announcement. (Reuters, republished by Investing.com, October 2, 2026; Associated Press, October 4, 2026)
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