Ban the term 'artificial intelligence': what Trump posted on October 27, and what the September order already does

President Trump said on October 27, 2026 that he will ban the term "artificial intelligence," in a Truth Social post that singled out The Wall Street Journal for still using it. "In short order, we will be officially BANNING the term, 'AI/Artificial Intelligence,' in all relevant documents," he wrote, according to Variety and ANI, adding "and everything else, due to its inaccuracy." As of October 29, no new order or memo had followed. The post builds on Executive Order 14434, signed September 29, 2026, which already tells federal agencies to say "Super Intelligence" instead. It's the latest turn in US AI policy under an administration that has also announced a White House "Super Intelligence Force".

This story is based on the text of Executive Order 14434 and its fact sheet on whitehouse.gov, the Federal Register's public-inspection copy, the White House presidential actions list, and reporting by Variety, ANI (via The Tribune), The National Desk and The Hill, checked October 28 and re-checked October 29, 2026.

The short version

• What he said: a Truth Social post on October 27 calling "Artificial Intelligence (AI)" "a very bad and inaccurate name" and saying the term would be officially banned "in short order."
• What has happened since: nothing formal, as of October 29. The White House's presidential actions page lists no new order on the term, and no memo or statement was found.
• What already exists: Executive Order 14434 directs executive agencies to use "Super Intelligence" and "SI" in their own documents and communications, "to the maximum extent permitted by law."
• What it doesn't do: the order has no penalties and doesn't cover private companies, individuals or the press.

What exactly did Trump say?

The post went up on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. Outlets quote the same passages. It opened with a question aimed at the Journal: "When will The Wall Street Journal start calling Artificial Intelligence (AI), a very bad and inaccurate name," as quoted by Variety and ANI. It continued: "In short order, we will be officially BANNING the term, 'AI/Artificial Intelligence,' in all relevant documents," then "and everything else, due to its inaccuracy," according to both outlets.

The post didn't say what "officially banning" would involve, who it would apply to, or how it would be enforced. No White House explanation had been published as of October 29, 2026.

It wasn't the first post on the subject. On October 8, 2026, Trump wrote that "The White House considers anyone that uses the term, 'Artificial Intelligence,'" to be "THE ENEMY!", The National Desk reported. Rep. Thomas Massie replied that "Artificial Intelligence is a term historically reserved for politicians."

What does the September executive order already require?

Executive Order 14434, "Inaugurating the Era of Super Intelligence," was signed September 29, 2026 and published in the Federal Register on October 2. It says "the executive branch shall use the terms 'Super Intelligence' and 'SI' in place of 'Artificial Intelligence' and 'AI.'"

Last verified: October 29, 2026

The statutory definition of "artificial intelligence" stays in federal law unless Congress changes it, which is why the order asks for proposed legislative language rather than rewriting statutes itself.

Was there an earlier terminology change?

Yes, two steps came before the order. At the UN General Assembly in September 2026, Trump said the US would switch from AI to SI, arguing that the word "artificial" makes intelligence sound fake, The Hill reported on September 24. The same report, citing an email obtained by the Associated Press, said a State Department deputy assistant secretary told the Bureau of International Organizations the department would use "SI" in all remarks and press materials. That was an internal email, not an order. The executive order followed on September 29.

What could the October 27 post mean in practice?

Based on what's published, three things are clear:

1. For federal agencies, the switch is already policy under EO 14434. A further order could extend it, for example to statutes through the legislative proposal due by November 28.
2. For companies, the press and the public, no order or law restricts using "artificial intelligence." EO 14434 doesn't reach them, and the White House hasn't said how "everything else" in the post would be covered.
3. For now, it's a statement of intent. No action had followed as of October 29, 2026.

Companies selling to the government may notice the change in procurement documents and agency websites, but the order says it doesn't alter existing contracts or grants. For how AI policy is being shaped through lobbying, see our look at Q3 2026 AI lobbying. Rules that do reach private speech about AI, such as labels on AI-generated political ads, come from states and platforms, as our explainer on AI political ad rules shows.

What's confirmed, reported and uncertain

• Confirmed by primary sources: EO 14434's text, date and scope (whitehouse.gov; Federal Register public inspection); no presidential action on the term listed on the White House site as of October 29 (the only entry after October 23 is an October 28 proclamation on robotics and industrial machinery imports).
• Reported: the wording of the October 27 post (Variety, ANI); the October 8 post (The National Desk); the UN remarks and State Department email (The Hill, citing AP).
• Uncertain: whether a new order is coming, what "officially banning" would cover beyond federal documents, and how it would interact with the First Amendment.