House Speaker Mike Johnson Rejects AI Moratorium, Citing China Threat

House Speaker Mike Johnson rejected an emergency moratorium on artificial intelligence development, warning that slowing American innovation could allow China to pull ahead. Johnson proposed a meeting between AI leaders, providers, and policymakers to find a balance between safety and innovation. Republican National Committee member Amy Kremer called for guardrails to protect Americans while preserving America's technological advantage. Kremer also emphasized the need for local control over data centers and rejecting eminent domain for projects. The AI debate has accelerated after Anthrophic CEO Dario Amodei called for slowing AI development, drawing support from xAI founder Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. President Donald Trump rejected calls for a broader slowdown, stating that the US is leading China in AI and wants to keep it that way.