Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., criticized President Donald Trump’s recent dismissal of artificial intelligence risks, saying the president “has no idea what he’s talking about” and urging faster congressional action to establish safeguards for the technology.
Kelly rebukes Trump’s characterization of AI risks
Kelly made the comments at the Atlantic Festival in New York City on the sidelines of the event, responding to remarks by Trump earlier in the week that labeled concerns about AI dangers a “hoax” and a political maneuver that could hamper U.S. innovation and economic progress. Kelly said the technology requires “meaningful guardrails” and suggested the president is disconnected from the realities of AI development.
“He clearly has no idea what he’s talking about,” Kelly told NBC News. "I wish he would educate himself on this."
Kelly also cited a Trump remark — describing a vaguely phrased remedy as "a little gear" — to underscore his point that the president lacks a substantive grasp of the technology. "Donald Trump is also the guy that said this will be fine because we will have a little gear," Kelly said, adding, "What the f--- does that mean?"
Policy gap and legislative efforts
Kelly, a former astronaut who has proposed several AI-related measures, framed the issue as a pressing national concern that will shape future elections. He noted the technical complexity of AI systems and warned that the pace of congressional action typically lags behind technological development.
Among Kelly’s proposals is the Senior Chatbot Protection Act, introduced in July to protect older Americans from fraud and scams that could be enabled by AI-driven impersonation. The source material indicates that none of Kelly’s major AI legislative proposals have been enacted to date, emphasizing the gap between proposals and law.
Political stakes and upcoming elections
Kelly suggested AI will be a central political issue moving forward and said he is considering a presidential run in 2028. His comments reflect a growing partisan divide over how to balance innovation and regulation, with the White House characterizing AI oversight efforts as potentially hampering American competitiveness.
Experts and lawmakers have long debated the right mix of voluntary industry standards, federal regulation and international coordination to manage AI’s risks. Kelly’s public rebuke highlights the transition of that debate from technical and academic circles into mainstream political discourse.
Economic backdrop: gas prices climb
Separately, national gasoline prices edged higher, adding a domestic economic concern for voters and policymakers. The nationwide average price per gallon stood at $4.46, up 3 cents overnight and within 10 cents of the year’s peak of $4.56 recorded on May 21. The average also remains near the all-time high of $5.01 set in June 2022, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Current national average | $4.46 |
| Yearly high (May 21) | $4.56 |
| All-time high (June 2022) | $5.01 |
Rising pump prices can influence voter sentiment and household budgets in the months ahead, particularly as the country approaches the midterm election cycle. The upward movement in gas costs adds an economic dimension to the political debate already shaped by technology policy and national security considerations.
What to watch next
- Whether the Biden or Trump camps respond to Kelly’s public critique and how AI policy debates shape campaign messaging.
- Progress, if any, in moving Kelly’s AI proposals through committees or into broader bipartisan negotiations.
- Trends in gasoline prices and the economic signals they send to voters ahead of the midterms.
Kelly’s comments underscore a larger national conversation over how rapidly government should move to regulate emergent technologies and how political leaders will reconcile economic competitiveness with consumer and national security protections.
