Trump Signs Executive Orders to Regulate AI and Pardon Election Official

President Trump signed significant executive orders on Thursday, focusing on two major issues: artificial intelligence regulation and a controversial pardon for Tina Peters, a former Colorado election official.

Trump's executive order aims to restrict states from implementing their own AI regulations, asserting that a patchwork of laws could hinder U.S. competitiveness against China. He argued that the United States needs a unified federal framework to advance AI development and prevent companies from navigating conflicting state regulations.

This order tasks Attorney General Pam Bondi with challenging state laws and threatens funding for states that do not comply. Meanwhile, Trump announced a pardon for Tina Peters, who is serving a nine-year sentence for allowing unauthorized access to voting machines.

Peters, a former Mesa County clerk, was convicted of multiple state crimes linked to her claims of election fraud. Trump's pardon has drawn criticism, particularly from Colorado officials, who assert that he lacks the authority to pardon a state conviction.

This situation underscores the ongoing tensions in U.S. politics over election integrity and the governance of emerging technologies, with bipartisan concerns arising about Trump's approach to both issues.