WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has postponed the signing of an executive order aimed at artificial intelligence and cybersecurity after saying he was unhappy with parts of the draft, according to reporting from CNBC and other outlets. The delay underscores the White House’s effort to balance aggressive support for U.S. AI leadership with mounting concerns over safety, security and regulatory oversight.
The order had been scheduled for signing at the White House on Thursday, but Trump called off the ceremony hours before it was set to begin. In remarks reported by CNBC, the president said he “didn’t like certain aspects” of the document, suggesting the administration wants more time to refine language that could shape federal policy on AI systems and the cybersecurity risks they pose.
The postponement comes at a time when the federal government is under pressure to respond to rapid advances in artificial intelligence, which have transformed everything from search and software development to defense, healthcare and financial services. Lawmakers, industry leaders and national security officials have increasingly warned that AI also creates new vulnerabilities, including the possibility of cyberattacks, automated disinformation and the misuse of advanced models by hostile actors.
According to the initial reporting, the executive order was expected to focus on cybersecurity-related issues tied to AI. While the exact contents of the draft were not publicly released, the administration’s broader approach has emphasized strengthening American competitiveness in AI while reducing what Trump and his allies see as unnecessary barriers to innovation.
Trump has repeatedly framed AI as a strategic race in which the United States must preserve its advantage over rivals such as China. That position has shaped a number of recent policy moves from the White House, including executive actions intended to clear away what the administration considers restrictive state-level rules and to build a national framework that favors rapid deployment of AI technologies.
The delay in signing the new order suggests the president is not simply seeking speed, but also control over the final policy details. White House officials have described AI as one of the most consequential technologies of the decade, and any presidential order touching the sector is likely to have implications for federal agencies, private companies and state regulators alike.
Industry groups have generally welcomed the Trump administration’s pro-innovation stance, arguing that the U.S. needs clear national policy and fewer overlapping regulations to remain competitive. At the same time, critics have pressed for stronger guardrails to address concerns about model safety, privacy, election integrity and critical infrastructure protection.
The cybersecurity angle is particularly important. As AI tools become more capable, experts say they can help defenders detect threats faster — but they can also be used to automate hacking, generate realistic phishing content, and identify weaknesses in systems at scale. That dual-use nature has made AI policy a moving target for governments around the world, with many countries debating how to encourage growth without exposing themselves to fresh risks.
Trump’s decision to hold back the signing ceremony indicates that the administration may be negotiating internally over the balance between those priorities. It is not unusual for White House directives to be revised at the last minute, especially when they touch on a fast-changing technology and carry potential political and legal consequences.
The episode also highlights how central AI has become to the president’s broader agenda. In recent months, the White House has treated AI less as a niche technology issue and more as a core economic and national security priority. That shift has brought the topic into closer alignment with trade, defense, labor and education policy, where automation and data security are increasingly intertwined.
For now, the delayed order leaves open questions about how soon the administration will return with revised language and whether any provisions will be softened, expanded or scrapped altogether. A new signing date has not been announced.
What is clear is that the White House sees AI policy as too important to rush. Trump’s objection to the draft order suggests that even in an administration eager to project momentum, the details of how to regulate — and empower — artificial intelligence remain unsettled.
The coming revisions are likely to be watched closely by tech executives, federal agencies and cybersecurity specialists, all of whom are looking for signals about how the administration intends to define the next phase of U.S. AI leadership.