By Brian Freeman | Monday, 18 May 2026 11:52 AM EDT
A coalition of more than 60 allies of President Donald Trump is pressing the White House to require federal testing and approval of the most advanced artificial intelligence systems before they are released to the public.
The move creates new pressure on an administration that has largely favored a light-touch approach to AI regulation. On Monday, the group urged Trump to adopt stricter oversight of so-called frontier AI models, warning that rapidly advancing systems could pose national security and public safety risks if left unchecked.
The letter was organized by Humans First, a conservative advocacy group focused on the societal impacts of artificial intelligence. It was signed by several prominent MAGA-aligned activists, including Amy Kremer and Brendan Steinhauser.
“The most powerful AI systems, which can now, or soon will be able to, assist in designing bioweapons, breaking into critical infrastructure, or manipulating financial markets, should be treated with the same seriousness and care,” the letter states.
The group compared advanced AI technologies to nuclear systems and aviation, arguing that the federal government should establish mandatory safeguards before deployment.
“For this reason, we support proposed policies that require mandatory testing, evaluation, vetting, and government approval of potentially dangerous frontier AI systems before they are deployed,” the letter said. “This is the sort of strong, principled, and pragmatic leadership you have shown throughout your presidency.”
The appeal places a growing faction of Trump’s political base at odds with the administration’s broader approach to artificial intelligence policy.
Inside the White House, officials have largely argued that the U.S. will maintain its competitive edge against China and other rivals by limiting federal regulation and discouraging state-level restrictions on AI development.
Even administration officials who have expressed support for voluntary testing and evaluation standards have generally stopped short of endorsing mandatory government approval before models are released.
The letter also criticized major AI companies and their executives, accusing technology leaders of operating without sufficient accountability.
“America did not become the greatest nation in the world by allowing unelected elites to experiment on the public without safeguards or accountability,” the letter states. “America First means American strength, American security, and the protection of our people first.”
The push comes as policymakers in Washington grapple with how to regulate increasingly sophisticated AI systems capable of generating human-like text, writing software code, conducting advanced research, and automating complex tasks.
A report recently indicated that the White House is weighing several options to strengthen oversight as more powerful AI models come online, though no formal regulatory framework has been announced.
The emerging divide within Trump-aligned circles highlights the growing debate over whether artificial intelligence should be treated primarily as an economic and geopolitical asset or as a technology requiring stricter federal controls due to potential risks.
With more conservative allies publicly calling for tougher rules, the administration could face mounting pressure to reconsider its hands-off stance toward the rapidly evolving AI industry.
Brian Freeman is a Newsmax writer based in Israel with over three decades of experience writing and editing about culture and politics for newspapers, online platforms, and television.
Trump Coalition Presses White House for Federal AI Safety Approvals Before Release
