US President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders on Wednesday aimed at reshaping the artificial intelligence (AI) landscape in the United States. The directives, unveiled during an AI summit in Washington, seek to position the US as a global leader in AI exports while dismantling what Trump described as "woke Marxist lunacy in the AI models."

Speaking at the Mellon Auditorium, Trump vowed to eliminate ideological bias from AI systems receiving federal funding. "Once and for all, we are getting rid of woke. Is that OK?" he said to applause from AI industry figures in attendance, criticizing President Joe Biden’s administration for embedding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) principles into AI development, claiming it undermined progress.

The order mandates that any AI company benefiting from federal funds must ensure its models remain politically neutral and free of ideological content, including DEI frameworks. The order suggests that government-funded AI should not sacrifice accuracy and truthfulness for political agendas. However, experts have noted that measuring political bias in AI remains contentious, leaving room for broad interpretation and potential selective enforcement by the administration.

The order is part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration to roll back DEI initiatives across federal institutions, universities, and the military. It aligns with conservative criticism of perceived liberal bias in the tech sector and represents a deeper effort to reshape ideological narratives in emerging technologies.

Boosting AI infrastructure and deregulation

In addition to ideological mandates, a second executive order focuses on infrastructure development and deregulation to accelerate the expansion of AI.

The order aims to simplify federal permitting processes to support the rapid construction of data centers, essential infrastructure for housing AI models. It also calls for scaling back environmental protections that could hinder such projects.

Environmental groups have warned that data centers consume enormous large amounts of water and energy and contribute to air and noise pollution. Nonetheless, the Trump administration framed these measures as necessary for geopolitical competitiveness.

Despite community opposition and environmental risks, the administration is prioritizing speed and capacity in AI development. Tech firms have long lobbied for such deregulation, viewing it as critical for scaling AI operations.

US push for global AI dominance

Trump’s orders coincide with the release of a 24-page document titled "Winning the Race", described as the Trump administration’s AI action plan.

The plan, introduced shortly after Trump took office, rescinds a Biden-era AI directive that emphasized regulation and safety. Instead, it outlines a strategy to reduce “red tape” and remove “onerous regulation,” emphasizing competitiveness and expansion.

"Winning this competition will be a test of our capacities unlike anything since the dawn of the space age," Trump declared, adding that: "We need US technology companies to be all-in for America. We want you to put America first."

The US action plan positions China as a central rival. Chinese companies, including Deepseek, have released AI models competing with Silicon Valley’s output, and Beijing has invested heavily in AI chip manufacturing and infrastructure.

The Trump administration’s stance on "woke" AI echoes longstanding right-wing grievances over perceived liberal dominance in tech. AI outputs, including those generated by chatbots and image generators, have become new battlegrounds for ideological disputes.

Elon Musk, one of the most vocal critics of liberal AI models, has pushed his company xAI to create what he calls an "anti-woke" chatbot, Grok. Despite recent controversy, including Grok promoting controversial content, the Department of Defense recently awarded contracts worth up to $200 million to xAI, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google.

Musk, who remains in public conflict with Trump, may nonetheless benefit from the administration’s AI directives due to his alignment with their ideological goals.