According to a source familiar with the discussions, Bessent could become the administration’s first “AI czar,” a position Trump said he would create on Saturday but has not yet detailed.
The White House has not commented on the possible appointment, and the Treasury Department likewise declined to provide an immediate response, as first reported by Semafor.
Bessent, who led a high‑level meeting on Sunday in New York with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, used the talks to push a new AI‑safety notification mechanism and a bilateral US‑China AI dialogue, emphasizing national‑security concerns.
The New York meeting was timed ahead of the upcoming summit in Washington between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, underscoring the administration’s desire to embed AI issues in broader diplomatic engagements.
Trump has repeatedly downplayed the need for additional AI regulation, arguing that existing frameworks are sufficient, a stance that has drawn criticism from members of Congress who warn about the technology’s potential threats.
Bessent, a former hedge‑fund manager, already holds several key posts: he has been steering a major overhaul of U.S. trade policy, negotiating with Ukraine on critical minerals, temporarily heading the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and serving as acting commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service.
If confirmed, Bessent would add AI oversight to a portfolio that already includes aggressive economic measures against Iran, indicating the administration’s broader strategy of using financial tools to address security challenges.