Trump signs executive order targeting ideological bias in AI

Thursday 24 July 2025 - 14:30

Former U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday aimed at eliminating what he calls "ideological bias" from artificial intelligence systems used by federal agencies. The order, issued during an AI policy summit in Washington, marks a significant political shift in how the U.S. government will engage with AI technology.

“The American people don’t want Marxist woke nonsense baked into AI,” Trump said during his speech, asserting that federally used AI models must be committed to “truth, fairness, and strict neutrality.”

The order bans federal agencies from working with AI companies whose systems are perceived to promote partisan ideas—particularly in areas such as diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), critical race theory, and transgender identity. Trump also announced plans to revoke Biden-era guidelines that integrated these principles into AI safety standards.

This move contrasts sharply with the previous administration’s approach, which emphasized fairness, anti-discrimination, and civil rights protections in AI systems. Trump’s executive order transforms AI into a new battleground for America's culture wars, aligning with his broader efforts to dismantle diversity and inclusion initiatives across federal institutions.

Recent controversies have intensified this debate. Google’s AI image generator, Gemini, faced backlash from conservatives for portraying America’s Founding Fathers with racially diverse appearances. Meanwhile, Grok—an AI chatbot developed by Elon Musk's xAI—was criticized for producing antisemitic responses, though it sparked limited right-wing outrage. Just days later, xAI secured a Pentagon contract worth up to $200 million.

As the 2025 presidential race heats up, Trump's move signals his intent to rally his base around cultural issues and assert control over the future direction of emerging technologies like AI.