President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he plans to sign an executive order this week aimed at blocking states from enacting their own AI regulations. In a post on social media, Trump declared, “I will be doing a ONE RULE Executive Order this week,” arguing that having 50 different state rules would hinder innovation. “You can’t expect a company to get 50 Approvals every time they want to do something,” he said, adding, “There must be only One Rulebook if we are going to continue to lead in AI.” He warned that without federal control, “AI WILL BE DESTROYED IN ITS INFANCY!” The announcement comes after a recent Senate vote rejected a similar effort to block state-level AI laws, as Congress failed to include the proposal in a must-pass defense bill. The lack of federal AI legislation has prompted many states to act independently. California has passed SB 53, a bill focused on AI safety and transparency, while Tennessee’s ELVIS Act protects artists from unauthorized use of their voices and images in AI-generated content. Tech leaders, including OpenAI President Greg Brockman and venture capitalist David Sacks, who now serves as a de facto “AI czar” in the White House, have long argued that a patchwork of state laws would stifle innovation and weaken the U.S. position in the global AI race, especially against China. They claim that federal preemption is necessary to ensure consistency and competitiveness. However, the push for a national rulebook has faced strong pushback. Critics, including New York Assembly member Alex Bores, who sponsored the state’s RAISE Act, accused the administration of favoring big tech at the expense of public safety. “Christmas comes early for AI billionaires who keep getting exactly what they want from The White House: a massive handout that makes it that much easier for them to make massive profits for themselves with exactly zero consideration for the risks to our kids, to our safety, and to our jobs,” Bores said. The draft of Trump’s executive order, leaked earlier, would create an “AI Litigation Task Force” to challenge state laws in court, direct federal agencies to review state regulations deemed overly burdensome, and push the FCC and FTC to establish national standards that override state rules. It would also give Sacks significant influence over AI policy, bypassing the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, currently led by Michael Kratsios. The move has drawn criticism even from within Trump’s own party. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) stated, “States must retain the right to regulate and make laws on AI and anything else for the benefit of their state. Federalism must be preserved.” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis echoed this, opposing any federal moratorium that would strip states of their ability to protect citizens, calling it overreach. He has also raised concerns about the environmental and economic impact of large data centers. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) advised Trump to “leave AI to the states,” warning that federal preemption could undermine local efforts to ensure safety and accountability. A bipartisan coalition of over 35 state attorneys general and more than 200 state lawmakers have also pushed back, warning that overriding state laws could lead to “disastrous consequences” and hinder progress on AI safety. Concerns about AI’s real-world harms are growing. There have been documented cases of individuals experiencing severe mental health crises, including suicide, after extended interactions with AI chatbots. Psychologists are now observing a rise in a condition they’re calling “AI psychosis.” These developments underscore the need for balanced, thoughtful regulation—and highlight the risks of rushing to block state-level action.