Trump derides copyright and state rules in AI Action Plan launch

The president seemed to riff since his 28-page AI Action Plan did not wade into copyright and administration officials told reporters the issue should be left up to the courts.


President Donald Trump gestures after signing executive orders after speaking during an AI summit at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium on July 23, 2025, in Washington. | Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP

By MOHAR CHATTERJEE
07/23/2025 07:05 PM EDT

President Donald Trump criticized copyright enforcement efforts and state-level AI regulations Wednesday as he launched the White House’s AI Action Plan on a mission to dominate the industry.

In remarks delivered at a “Winning the AI Race” summit hosted by the All-In Podcast and the Hill and Valley Forum in Washington, Trump said stringent copyright enforcement was unrealistic for the AI industry and would kneecap U.S. companies trying to compete globally, particularly against China.

“You can’t be expected to have a successful AI program when every single article, book or anything else that you’ve read or studied, you’re supposed to pay for,” he said. “You just can’t do it because it’s not doable. ... China’s not doing it.”

Trump’s comments were a riff as his 28-page AI Action Plan did not wade into copyright and administration officials told reporters the issue should be left to the courts to decide.

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