Speaking in an exclusive interview with CNBC, Trump described AI and crypto as strategic industries that will shape global economic and technological leadership in the coming decades.
“The way I look at AI, or the way I look at crypto, is that if we’re not going to do it, China is going to get it.”
Trump said the US currently leads both sectors and stressed that maintaining that advantage should remain a national priority. He described artificial intelligence as a technology with greater long-term potential than the internet and said the country leading the AI race would ultimately gain a decisive competitive advantage.
While backing innovation, Trump said governments should adopt only limited regulation, intervening quickly when genuine risks emerge rather than imposing broad restrictions on the industry.
“You need some guardrails, but you want to do as little as possible.”
The President also defended his family’s involvement in cryptocurrency after disclosures showed significant income from crypto-related businesses. Trump said there was nothing improper about the investments and maintained that he does not personally manage his financial holdings while serving as President.
He also referred to reports about his indirect holdings in Nvidia, saying any exposure to the chipmaker came through investment firms managing his assets rather than through direct investment decisions.
Trump said his support for crypto extends beyond personal financial interests, arguing that digital assets have become an important strategic industry and that the US cannot afford to surrender its leadership to geopolitical rivals.