President Donald Trump announced on October 4, 2026, that Jay Clayton will lead a new federal task force called the “Super Intelligence Force.” The group is intended to coordinate federal engagement on AI; the announcement does not set out a detailed budget, regulatory mandate, implementation schedule or individual assignments. Clayton’s selection is notable because he chaired the Securities and Exchange Commission when it filed its 2020 complaint against Ripple and two executives over an alleged unregistered XRP offering.
What is the Super Intelligence Force?
It is a newly announced federal coordinating group, not a detailed AI policy or regulatory program. The Associated Press reported that it will coordinate federal engagement on AI and report to Trump and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles. The announcement named these members alongside Clayton:
- Andrew Ferguson, chairman of the Federal Trade Commission
- Emil Michael, a Pentagon technology official
- Scott Kupor, director of the Office of Personnel Management
Trump described the group’s goal as “to ensure that America continues to lead the World in Super Intelligence, which many say is bigger than the Industrial Revolution, and the Internet, and will protect the interests, and improve the lives, of all Americans,” according to the AP’s account of his social-media post. The cited announcement does not specify how the group will operate or what authority it will exercise. Associated Press, October 4, 2026
Why is the task force called “Super Intelligence”?
The name follows an executive order Trump signed five days earlier. Executive Order 14434, dated September 29, 2026, directs executive departments and agencies, to the maximum extent permitted by law, to use “Super Intelligence” and “SI” instead of “Artificial Intelligence” and “AI” in specified official communications and other non-statutory documents.
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The order does not establish a new statutory category. For purposes of implementing the order, it initially uses the existing statutory definition of artificial intelligence. It also directs the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology to submit proposed legislative language for a federal definition within 60 days. The order’s terminology policy and the task force’s coordination role are separate actions: one addresses specified executive-branch language and a proposed definition; the other is a newly announced group. White House, Executive Order 14434, September 29, 2026
What did Jay Clayton do in the Ripple case?
Clayton chaired the SEC from May 2017 through December 2020, according to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. On December 22, 2020, while he was chair, the SEC announced that it had filed a complaint against Ripple Labs and executives Christian Larsen and Bradley Garlinghouse.
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The SEC alleged that Ripple and the executives raised more than $1.3 billion through an unregistered XRP offering. That figure and description are allegations in the SEC’s complaint, not a summary of the full subsequent court proceedings or their outcome. The SEC announcement establishes what the agency alleged when it filed the case; it should not be treated as a final adjudication. SEC, December 22, 2020 Office of the Director of National Intelligence, August 3, 2026
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How the appointment fits the recent timeline
| Date | Development |
|---|---|
| May 2017–December 2020 | Clayton served as SEC chair, according to ODNI. |
| December 22, 2020 | The SEC announced its complaint against Ripple and two executives, including allegations about an unregistered XRP offering. |
| August 3, 2026 | Clayton was sworn in as Director of National Intelligence. |
| September 29, 2026 | Trump signed Executive Order 14434 on “Super Intelligence” terminology and directed preparation of proposed legislative language for a federal definition. |
| October 2, 2026 | Reuters reported that Clayton was expected to receive an AI adviser role. The White House said personnel announcements would come directly from the president and called earlier reporting “baseless speculation.” Reuters, republished by Investing.com |
| October 4, 2026 | The AP reported Trump’s public announcement naming Clayton to lead the task force. |
The October 2 report concerned an expected appointment; the October 4 report covered the subsequent public announcement. The sequence is not evidence that the two reports described separate appointments.
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