TRUMP PULLS IT OFF — China Makes Announcement NO ONE Saw Coming
President Donald Trump said Thursday morning that artificial intelligence will be a major topic during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, placing the rapidly developing technology at the center of talks between the leaders of the world’s two largest economies.
“AI will be a big topic of discussion,” Trump wrote on social media ahead of Xi’s meetings at the White House.
The comments came as Washington and Beijing increasingly compete for technological dominance in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and advanced computing while simultaneously confronting questions about whether the two countries should cooperate on preventing potentially catastrophic AI failures.
Trump told Reuters ahead of the meeting that both countries are developing powerful AI systems but suggested he was not looking for sweeping new restrictions.
“We both want to leave it exactly where it is,” Trump said, referring to the current state of competition between the United States and China.
AI has become one of the most consequential areas of the broader U.S.-China rivalry.
American officials have restricted China’s access to some advanced computer chips and semiconductor manufacturing equipment, arguing that the technology could be used to strengthen Beijing’s military and intelligence capabilities.
China has responded by accelerating development of its domestic semiconductor industry and artificial intelligence systems.
The Trump administration has generally favored rapid American AI development over new federal restrictions.
Earlier this month, Trump rejected growing calls for tougher regulation, writing on social media that claims AI could destroy humanity were a “hoax” and arguing that overly aggressive rules could leave American companies at a disadvantage against China.
Trump reinforced that position Tuesday during his address to the United Nations General Assembly.
“Whoever wins AI, wins,” Trump told world leaders while arguing that the United States must remain ahead in the global technology race.
He also said the Justice Department could intervene if AI companies engaged in misconduct but resisted calls for broad new government regulation.
Trump suggested that artificial intelligence could ultimately become even more transformative than the Industrial Revolution.
The president’s position contrasts with increasingly urgent warnings from some technology executives and researchers.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, and Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk have all raised concerns about the possibility that increasingly sophisticated AI systems could eventually pose serious risks if development proceeds without sufficient safeguards.
The debate has produced unusual political alliances, with lawmakers from both parties calling for stronger protections even as others warn that regulation could slow U.S. innovation and benefit China.
Despite Trump’s resistance to broad regulation, his administration has discussed narrower areas of cooperation with Beijing.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent proposed during recent talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng that the two governments establish an AI safety notification system.
Under the proposal, Washington and Beijing could notify each other about significant AI incidents while opening a broader bilateral dialogue on issues including national security, transparency, infrastructure protection and the possible weaponization of advanced AI systems.
Reuters previously reported that American and Chinese officials had been preparing AI discussions for September as both countries grapple with increasingly capable frontier models and the security risks associated with them.
It remained unclear Thursday whether Trump and Xi would announce a formal AI agreement.
The leaders entered the meeting with a lengthy list of other disputes to address, including tariffs, trade restrictions, Taiwan, rare-earth minerals, and American limits on high-end semiconductor exports to China.
Their meeting is Xi’s first White House visit in more than a decade and the second face-to-face meeting between Trump and Xi this year.
Trump had previewed the AI discussions months earlier.
In July, the president said he intended to raise artificial intelligence with Xi during the Chinese leader’s September visit, signaling that the technology competition would play a prominent role in the summit.
The issue has only gained urgency since then.
China has invested heavily in domestic AI companies and semiconductor production, while the United States remains home to many of the industry’s dominant companies, including Nvidia, OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Meta and Anthropic.
💥 PRESS DEBUT DISASTER!
Katie Zacharia’s Awkward First White House Press Briefing Draws National Attention
Katie Zacharia’s first appearance behind the White House podium quickly became a major talking point after several uncomfortable moments overshadowed her debut as President Donald Trump’s new press secretary.
The October 13 briefing lasted approximately 14 minutes, with Zacharia answering questions from only three news outlets before ending the session. Her short appearance immediately attracted widespread media attention.
Zacharia had recently been selected to replace former press secretary Karoline Leavitt, stepping into a highly visible role responsible for communicating the administration’s positions to journalists and the American public.
From the opening minutes, observers noticed her reliance on prepared notes. She delivered a lengthy account of Trump’s accomplishments, frequently looking down at the script instead of maintaining eye contact with reporters.
Her delivery also attracted criticism, with commentators describing her voice as hesitant and her presentation as unusually stiff. Others questioned whether the administration had given its newest spokesperson enough preparation time.
Much of the briefing focused on praising Trump’s economic agenda, energy policies, rally attendance, and political achievements. The extended list of talking points left relatively little time for substantive exchanges with journalists.
One particularly awkward moment occurred when Zacharia discussed the challenge of balancing her demanding position with family life. She explained that spending evenings away from her four children was unacceptable to her.
She then accidentally referred to her husband as “my president” before immediately correcting herself with “my husband.” Recognizing the slip, she added a brief joke, creating the briefing’s most widely discussed moment.
The verbal mix-up spread rapidly through news coverage and social media, becoming a defining image of her first appearance. Critics treated it as evidence of nervousness, while others viewed it as an ordinary human mistake.
Her response to a question about U.S. intelligence sharing with Ukraine also drew attention. When asked whether Washington had stopped sharing intelligence with Kyiv, Zacharia replied that she would have to get back to the reporter.
The exchange was brief, but it highlighted the difficulty of responding to sensitive foreign policy questions without immediately having the necessary information. Reporters continued seeking answers as the briefing moved forward.
Another significant announcement concerned Kimberly Guilfoyle, the U.S. ambassador to Greece. Zacharia told reporters that the administration had asked Guilfoyle to resign, unexpectedly introducing a personnel development into the short briefing.
The announcement generated additional headlines and demonstrated that, despite the awkward delivery, Zacharia’s first appearance included consequential political news. Her handling of the announcement, however, also attracted scrutiny from commentators.
Questions about her readiness soon emerged among political observers and some administration allies. The Wall Street Journal described the debut as rocky, reporting that her nervous presentation prompted questions about the decision to put her before cameras so quickly.
The brief question-and-answer session was another unusual feature. After taking questions from Breitbart News, Fox News, and the Daily Mail, Zacharia announced that reporters could ask Trump questions directly as he prepared to leave.
Her decision to end the briefing after such limited questioning became another focus of criticism. Regular White House briefings often involve extended exchanges, making the short session particularly noticeable to journalists and political commentators.
Despite the criticism, Trump publicly defended his new press secretary. Asked about her performance, the president said he thought she had done very well, offering a clear show of support following the difficult debut.
The White House also presented the briefing positively, describing Zacharia’s performance as commanding. That assessment contrasted with critical media coverage, illustrating how differently supporters and detractors interpreted the same appearance.
Zacharia’s debut has therefore become an early test of her ability to manage a demanding communications role. Future briefings will offer a clearer indication of whether she can develop greater confidence and handle sustained questioning.
For now, the accidental “my president” remark remains the most memorable moment from her first appearance. Whether the incident becomes a brief viral embarrassment or a lasting political talking point will depend on what follows.
