A new survey released on Monday, September 14, 2026, indicates that 23 percent of Americans approve of President Donald Trump’s handling of artificial intelligence (AI), while 57 percent say he has handled the issue poorly. The University of Massachusetts Amherst poll shows the president’s net approval rating on the issue has declined since March 2026, when his net approval was approximately 25 points underwater.
The poll results follow a period in which the president has advocated for fewer regulations on AI technology. This stance comes as major AI firms have called for a slowdown in development for safety reasons, and as reports have surfaced regarding the potential for AI to be used in cyberattacks or to provide instructions for biological weapons.
President Trump addressed these concerns on Sunday, September 13, at the Irish Open, stating that the U.S. leads China in AI development and that "whoever wins AI, wins." He characterized some warnings about the technology as "negative forces" bringing up events that he said would not happen. On Monday, September 14, the president used his Truth Social platform to label concerns about AI a "hoax" and a "conspiracy" that benefits China, attributing the surge in public worry to members of the Democratic Party.
For the average American, the impact of AI technology is felt through the integration of AI chatbots into daily tasks, such as meal planning or personal communication. However, the expansion of the industry also involves the construction of physical data centers. According to the report, these projects have raised concerns among residents regarding their quality of life and the environmental impact on their local communities.
The debate over guardrails involves a conflict between the administration's position and warnings from industry insiders. For instance, former Anthropic employee Jacob Coxon, who resigned the week of September 7, expressed concern that the technology could pose existential risks by the end of the decade. As the president maintains his position against increased regulation, the focus remains on how these views will influence voter sentiment leading into the 2026 midterm elections. The University of Massachusetts Amherst poll results were published on September 14, 2026.