Trump’s Expected AI Czar Pick Revives Clayton’s SEC Record

President Donald Trump is expected to name Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton as the White House’s artificial intelligence czar while keeping him in his intelligence post. Clayton would take on AI policy responsibilities in addition to leading the intelligence community.

The position is not expected to include cryptocurrency policy. That area is handled separately by White House adviser Patrick Witt.

Clayton’s potential appointment has renewed attention on his record at the Securities and Exchange Commission. During his tenure, the SEC established its Cyber Unit in 2017 to investigate digital-asset activity, cryptocurrency violations, cyber-related misconduct and other technology-related cases.

By the end of 2020, the SEC said it had brought 57 cases involving initial coin offerings, blockchain technology or digital assets. The cases included allegations of investor fraud and violations of securities-registration requirements.

In December 2020, the SEC sued Ripple and two of its executives. The agency alleged that Ripple had raised more than $1.3 billion through an unregistered offering of XRP.

The case continued after Clayton left the SEC. A federal court later ruled that some institutional sales of XRP violated securities laws, while certain secondary-market sales did not.

Clayton returned to government in August 2026 when he became director of national intelligence. If Trump formally appoints him as AI czar, Clayton would oversee AI policy while continuing to lead the intelligence agency.