Mark Kelly Slams Trump Over Sudden AI Executive Order Reversal: 'America Cannot Lead In AI If…'

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) called President Donald Trump‘s decision to walk away from his own artificial intelligence executive order a “failure,” warning that the lack of federal AI oversight could weaken U.S. competitiveness and the tech sector. Billionaire Influence Drove Trump’s AI Retreat According to Kelly's Friday post on X, the order, based on published reports, would have established a voluntary process for government agencies to assess certain frontier AI systems for risks and vulnerabilities before they are publicly released. The order would have also required AI developers to share advanced models with the government 90 days before public release, with early access extended to critical infrastructure groups, including banks. Kelly said even that modest step was abandoned after pushback from major tech executives. “America cannot lead in AI if our policy is determined by whichever billionaire gets the President on the phone last,” Kelly said. Trump folded on AI – here's why that matters:Artificial intelligence is moving fast. Faster than most people in Washington are prepared for.It is already changing how people work, how companies operate, how our kids learn, and how countries compete.Powerful, disruptive…— Senator Mark Kelly (@SenMarkKelly) May 22, 2026 Trump, however, framed the decision differently. “We’re leading China, we’re leading everybody, and I don’t want to do anything that’s going to get in the way of that lead,” Trump said. The reversal stands in contrast to Trump’s December 2025 executive order, in which he targeted “excessive state regulation” of AI and launched a Department of Justice task force to challenge state laws deemed inconsistent with federal policy. Congress Eyes Its Own AI Framework Kelly, a former NASA astronaut and Navy veteran, is pushing a legislative alternative through his “AI for America” plan, arguing that Congress must step in with “real, forward-looking policy on AI.” In his post, Kelly also warned that AI will shape the future of cybersecurity, the energy grid and U.S. competition with China, areas where he said getting policy right "matters for families in Arizona and across the country." The withdrawal leaves the U.S. without a federal framework for evaluating advanced AI systems ahead of public deployment. Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Read Also: Trump Drops New Immigration Hammer: Green Card Seekers Told To Apply From Home