WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald J. Trump took aim at what he called the “centralized control” of artificial intelligence by the previous administration, accusing it of deliberately restricting AI to a small group of powerful tech companies.

“The reason the last administration was so eager to regulate and restrict A.I. was so they could limit this technology to just a few large companies — allowing them to centralize it, censor it, control it, weaponize it,” Trump said. “This is the OPPOSITE of my approach.”

Trump outlined a stark contrast in vision: one that promotes open access, innovation, and decentralized development of AI technologies. He emphasized that AI should be widely available to empower entrepreneurs, small businesses, and researchers — not hoarded by Big Tech giants under the pretext of safety.

The comments build on Trump’s broader America First tech agenda, which calls for bold investment in AI infrastructure, support for startups, and opposition to policies that could stifle competition or enforce political bias through algorithmic control.

Analysts note that the former president’s remarks are part of a growing debate over who should own and govern AI, as the technology becomes more central to economic power and information control.