Trump Names Ex-SEC Chief Jay Clayton to Lead New Super Intelligence Force
Trump assigns intelligence chief to head new AI command
President Donald Trump announced on Sunday, October 4, that Jay Clayton, the United States director of national intelligence, will lead a new government body called the Super Intelligence Force.
Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social account. He said Clayton will report directly to the president and to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
Clayton has a background in financial regulation. He served as chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission during Trump's first term in office. The SEC is the federal agency that oversees securities markets, including cryptocurrency exchanges and tokens.
Key names and roles
- Jay Clayton — director of national intelligence and incoming leader of the Super Intelligence Force
- Andrew Ferguson — chairman of the Federal Trade Commission
- Scott Kupor — director of the Office of Personnel Management
- Emil Michael — under secretary of war for research and engineering and chief technology officer for the Department of War
- Susie Wiles — chief of staff to whom the force will report
What Trump said on Truth Social
Trump described the Super Intelligence Force as tasked with "coordinating the effort of the Federal Government to ensure that America continues to lead the World in Super Intelligence."
He also named the other four officials joining Clayton in the new body.
What other sources reported
Media reports on Friday, October 2, flagged the appointment before Trump's announcement. Sources told CNN that Clayton is expected to keep his current role as director of national intelligence while leading the new force.
Cointelegraph reported on September 20 that Trump planned to create an "AI Force" modeled after the existing Space Force and appoint a dedicated artificial intelligence czar.
What is confirmed
Trump publicly announced Clayton's appointment on Truth Social on October 4. The Senate confirmed Clayton to lead the intelligence community in July 2026. Clayton served as SEC chair during Trump's first term and later as interim U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Three other officials were named as part of the new Super Intelligence Force. The reporting structure places Clayton under the president and the chief of staff.
What is still unclear
The sources do not describe the structure, authority, or specific responsibilities of the Super Intelligence Force beyond Trump's broad statement about coordinating federal AI efforts. It is not yet clear whether Clayton will hold both the intelligence chief and Super Intelligence Force roles simultaneously. CNN sources indicated that is expected, but no official confirmation was provided in the supplied material.
Sources
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