# Trump’s AI strategy will defeat America before China even tries

> Source: <https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4728909/federal-ai-safety-benchmarks-national-security/>
> Published: 2026-09-19 10:00:00+00:00

When I served as the elected county commissioner president, a familiar phrase echoed through local government whenever new regulations were proposed: “Educate, don’t legislate.” It is a philosophy rooted in a healthy distrust of top-down mandates. It builds on the belief that informed, responsible actors manage risk better than a rigid [bureaucracy](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/bureaucracy).

Today, that exact governance mindset has taken center stage in Washington. President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) have signaled a clear preference for private sector responsibility. Their argument is compelling on its face. The United States leads [China](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/china/) in the race for advanced software. Heavy federal rules risk crippling American innovation. Johnson explicitly noted that Congress will not lead the charge on regulating [AI safety](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/cybersecurity/), warning that strict restrictions could cause us to cede technological dominance to our adversaries.

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