MSNBC host Jen Psaki on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, questioned Donald Trump’s understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) following his comments regarding the management of potentially dangerous systems. Psaki, a former White House press secretary under President Joe Biden, addressed Trump’s public statements about the technology during her program.
Psaki noted Trump has previously shared AI-generated content on his Truth Social platform. The discussion focused on how to control advanced AI if the technology were to reach a stage where it no longer followed human instructions.
During the broadcast, Psaki aired footage of Trump suggesting that the risk of AI could be managed by disconnecting the power source. Trump stated that if AI systems became dangerous, humans could "simply turn it all off" by pulling the plug. Psaki characterized this approach as treating advanced technology "like it’s a toaster that you unplug."
The concrete day-to-day change for the public depends on which regulatory or technical philosophy prevails: one that relies on manual disconnection or one that requires complex software safeguards. If a manual "unplugging" method is insufficient for networked AI systems, the failure to implement other controls could lead to systemic disruptions in sectors ranging from finance to energy. This discussion reflects different approaches future presidential administrations might take regarding the oversight of emerging technologies and whether they will prioritize hardware-based or software-based restrictions.
What happens next remains dependent on the development of federal AI policy and the outcome of the 2026 political cycle. Currently, the debate persists between those who view AI as a tool that can be physically deactivated and those who argue that its networked nature requires more sophisticated governance.