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Scott Bessent slams Bernie Sanders over AI invite; 'Stop inviting foreign nationals'
Sanders announced a Wednesday AI safety forum with leading researchers from the US and China, including MIT’s Max Tegmark. Scott Bessent hit back, saying the United States should not invite foreign nationals to tell the US how to regulate AI. The clash sits within a broader US-China competition over AI governance and sovereignty.
Why It Matters
The exchange highlights how policy debates on AI governance intersect with national sovereignty and international collaboration, amid US-China AI competition.
Timeline
3 Events
US-China AI 'tech war' context cited in article
April 28, 2026
The article places the dispute in a broader US-China AI rivalry, noting that the Trump administration recently accused China-linked actors of stealing American AI models through distillation, and that Beijing has reportedly banned homegrown companies from purchasing US-made technology hardware while urging local players not to take American investment for national security reasons.
Bessent criticizes Sanders' AI invite as undermining US sovereignty
April 28, 2026
Bessent wasted no time firing back, characterizing the invite as a move that undermines American sovereignty and innovation. “The United States is home to the most talented AI researchers in the world,” Bessent stated, adding, “Instead of harnessing American innovation, Senator Sanders is inviting foreign nationals to tell the United States how to regulate AI.” He also compared Sanders’ political history to Hugo Chavez, saying it’s like channeling Chavez to get advice on how to run our economy.
Sanders announces AI safety discussion with US and China researchers
April 28, 2026
On April 28, 2026, Sanders announced he will host a discussion on Wednesday, April 29, featuring top researchers from the US and China, including MIT's Max Tegmark and experts from Beijing's leading AI institutes.