Trump Defends AI, Warns China Seeks Advantage in Slowdown Debate

US President Donald Trump defends AI and data centers against calls for a slowdown, warning that the backlash could help China close the gap with the US. Trump says the only AI "guardrails" needed are a strong and smart president and warns of a "sick conspiracy" against AI. China is pushing back, calling the warnings "fear-mongering" and describing AI as a major battleground for global technological competition. The AI race is becoming a geopolitical spending race, with investors eyeing rising AI security demand.