Johnson calls for AI solutions but says Congress won't take the lead

House Speaker Mike Johnson said Sunday that while AI needs guardrails and safety measures, Congress should not lead the effort to regulate AI development. Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union” and NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Johnson argued that companies can halt work themselves and that Congress should resist calls for an emergency moratorium. He said he would recall lawmakers and schedule a vote on AI regulation only “if we had a solution,” and warned against losing the U.S. competitive edge against China, calling it a national security issue. Johnson said he wants a meeting involving President Trump, members of Congress, and top AI officials. Democrats, led by Hakeem Jeffries, said they planned to discuss action after AI lab leaders endorsed slowing model development. Johnson questioned whether there is consensus on guardrails.