Scott Bessent Named as Potential Trump KI Advisor

A confidential source reports that U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent may be poised to replace Donald Trump as his president’s chief artificial intelligence advisor. Trump announced last weekend plans to appoint a KI advisor and establish a dedicated KI unit, though he has not yet detailed the operational framework. While congressional figures have raised concerns about KI risks, Trump has dismissed additional regulatory measures as unnecessary, framing them as overreach. Bessent’s involvement follows recent high-level discussions with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in New York, where KI was a focal point ahead of this week’s U.S.-China summit between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. In a post-meeting statement, Bessent highlighted Washington’s proposal for a new KI safety warning system and an expanded U.S.-China KI dialogue, emphasizing national security as a priority. Bessent, previously a hedge fund manager, has held multiple senior roles under Trump, including steering U.S. trade policy, negotiating critical mineral deals with Ukraine, and temporarily overseeing consumer protection and tax agencies. His Treasury Department has also intensified sanctions targeting Iran to isolate its economy economically. The report does not confirm Bessent’s official nomination but reflects a developing pattern of his expanding influence across Trump’s administration’s strategic priorities.