Trump to meet China’s Xi as Congress mulls bill banning artificial superintelligence – US politics live

Trump Scheduled to Meet Xi Jinping as Lawmakers Introduce Legislation on Advanced AI Oversight

President Donald Trump is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping later today at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, marking the start of a three-day state visit during which artificial intelligence policy is expected to feature prominently in discussions. The meeting follows Xi’s departure from Beijing on Wednesday aboard a special plane, accompanied by his wife Peng Liyuan, senior official Cai Qi, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and other members of the delegation, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged the United States and China to establish structured channels for dialogue on artificial intelligence, drawing a comparison to communications between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War era. “Governments with the greatest AI capabilities have the greatest responsibilities to humanity, to establish channels for dialogue, transparency, trust and cooperation,” Guterres stated. Several technology executives, including Jeff Bezos of Amazon, Sundar Pichai of Alphabet, Sam Altman of OpenAI, Tim Cook of Apple, Elon Musk of Tesla, Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, and Jensen Huang of Nvidia, are scheduled to attend a state dinner at the White House on Thursday evening.

Senators Bernie Sanders and Representative Greg Casar plan to introduce legislation that would prohibit the development of artificial superintelligence, establish a federal Department of Artificial Intelligence, and require a pause in certain advanced AI research until regulatory guidelines are in place. The measure, first shared with the Associated Press, defines artificial superintelligence as systems capable of operating independently of human control once they surpass human-level intelligence. Multiple employees at major AI firms have expressed support for the proposal. Sanders told the Associated Press that the legislation addresses risks of uncontrolled systems, stating, “It doesn’t take a genius to say, ‘slow it down.’ Do we really want to develop a super intelligence that when it becomes smarter than human beings could act independently of human control? I don’t think we do.”

The term “artificial superintelligence” does not have a single agreed-upon technical definition across the research community, and some computer scientists have noted that current machine learning systems remain well below thresholds described in the bill. Technology industry associations have raised concerns that broad pauses on development could affect U.S. competitiveness in a field where multiple nations are investing heavily. Congress has enacted limited measures regulating AI development to date.

In his address to the UN General Assembly, Trump stated that the United States would take military action against Iran if the Iranian government did not reach an agreement on nuclear and regional issues. He also described ongoing diplomatic efforts with Russian and Ukrainian leaders aimed at concluding the conflict in Ukraine. Trump defended prior U.S. actions in Latin America, including the arrest of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, U.S. drone operations targeting vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, and accusations that Mexican cartels exercise significant control over parts of Mexico. He indicated support for political change in Cuba and rejected proposals for international bodies to set binding rules on artificial intelligence.

Following the UN address, Trump signed an agreement concerning Greenland. Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederick Nielsen stated that the arrangement “underlines the importance of the Nato alliance” while recognizing U.S. contributions to regional security and affirming the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark along with Greenland’s right to self-determination.

Trump also commented on media access during an exchange at the UN General Assembly, expressing surprise at coverage by CNN after the network, along with Politico and MSNBC, had been excluded from certain White House events the previous week. At a separate press conference, Vice President JD Vance and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz announced that 760,000 individuals would be removed from Affordable Care Act insurance marketplaces due to eligibility reviews.

Separately, the Trump administration has declined to grant an immediate waiver to Tressa Rae Finerty, the newly appointed deputy high commissioner at the UN refugee agency UNHCR. Finerty, an American citizen who assumed the post earlier this month, has taken leave while seeking approval to perform certain duties, according to diplomatic sources cited by Reuters. The State Department indicated that decisions regarding engagement with UNHCR are guided by U.S. foreign policy priorities. The agency had previously selected a candidate other than the individual preferred by Washington for the deputy position.

These developments occur against a backdrop of ongoing bilateral tensions and cooperation between the United States and China on technology, trade, and security matters. The scheduled meetings between Trump and Xi are expected to address export controls, supply chain issues, and potential frameworks for managing advanced computing capabilities. No specific outcomes from the talks have been announced as of the latest reports.

Additional reporting on the AI legislation indicates that the proposed Department of Artificial Intelligence would be tasked with developing safety standards and licensing requirements for frontier models. Sponsors have cited statements from some AI researchers regarding long-term risks, while critics within the sector argue that existing regulatory tools at agencies such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology already provide mechanisms for oversight without new statutory pauses. The bill’s progress will depend on committee scheduling and broader legislative priorities in both chambers.

The Greenland agreement formalizes existing defense cooperation arrangements without altering the territory’s political status. Danish officials have described the text as consistent with longstanding NATO commitments and bilateral understandings. Implementation details, including any new infrastructure or personnel commitments, remain subject to further negotiation between the involved governments.

Coverage of the UN General Assembly session also included references to U.S. policy toward Cuba and Mexico. Trump reiterated positions on sanctions and border security that have been consistent elements of his administration’s approach. Mexican government representatives have disputed characterizations of cartel influence over state institutions, pointing to ongoing bilateral law enforcement cooperation.

The removal of enrollees from ACA marketplaces stems from verification processes conducted by federal agencies to confirm eligibility under existing statute. Officials stated that affected individuals retain options to obtain coverage through other programs or during subsequent enrollment periods. Advocacy groups tracking health policy have begun reviewing the scale of the changes and potential impacts on state-level insurance markets.

As preparations continue for the Trump-Xi meetings, both governments have signaled that artificial intelligence governance and export controls will occupy significant portions of the agenda. Technical working groups are expected to convene alongside the leaders’ discussions. Outcomes will be monitored by industry participants and congressional committees examining related legislation.