POLICY WIRE FACT CHECK: AI safety warnings aren’t only coming from the left, despite Trump’s dismissal
The Claim On September 22, 2026, during a speech at the United Nations General Assembly, former President Donald Trump made a viral claim suggesting that the same group of individuals who previously...
The Claim
On September 22, 2026, during a speech at the United Nations General Assembly, former President Donald Trump made a viral claim suggesting that the same group of individuals who previously warned about climate change and the “Russia hoax” were now sounding alarms about artificial intelligence (AI) dangers. He stated, The very same people who said we’ll all be dead in 12 years because of global warming… are the same people that are now saying that AI is going to kill us all. This statement was widely shared on social media, particularly on Truth Social, where Trump has been active in recent months.
Trump further equated AI fears with other issues he has dismissed as hoaxes, including the “Ukraine hoax” related to his 2019 impeachment. The claim gained traction after a researcher from Anthropic, Jacob Coxon, resigned in September 2026 citing existential threats from AI. Trump’s rhetoric implied a coordinated effort by a specific group—primarily Democrats—to push alarmist narratives across multiple issues, including climate change, the Russia investigation, and AI safety. This framing raised concerns about whether the claim was an intentional mischaracterization or an unintentional distortion of complex policy debates.
The Details & Investigation
Trump’s claim relies on a conflation of distinct groups and issues. While there may be some overlap between climate change advocates and AI safety proponents, the assertion that these groups are identical or entirely aligned is not supported by evidence. Climate change science is broadly accepted by the scientific community, with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) emphasizing the urgency of action without predicting human extinction within a specific timeframe. The “Russia hoax” referenced by Trump refers to the Mueller investigation, which was initiated under the Trump administration and continued through its duration, contradicting the idea that it was solely a Democratic effort.
Regarding AI safety, warnings have come from both industry leaders and researchers across political spectra. Dario Amodei of Anthropic, Sam Altman of OpenAI, Demis Hassabis of Google DeepMind, and Elon Musk have all expressed concerns about the risks of unregulated AI development. These figures span different ideological backgrounds, and their warnings are not confined to one political party. In fact, several Republican lawmakers, including Senators Josh Hawley and Ted Lieu, have introduced legislation to regulate AI, with Hawley launching an investigation into OpenAI for potential existential risks.
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Additionally, the concept of “effective altruism,” a movement focused on maximizing positive impact, includes both climate change and AI risk as serious global challenges. However, this movement is not monolithic, and not all members of this group support AI regulation. On the political left, the New York City Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) have criticized AI warnings as alarmism, indicating that not all progressive voices agree on the necessity of AI regulation. A September 2026 Politico poll found that majorities of both Democratic and Republican voters believe there is at least a moderate risk of AI destroying humanity, further undermining the notion that AI concerns are solely a left-wing issue.
While Trump’s statement may have been based on a genuine misunderstanding of the diverse actors involved in AI safety discussions, it also appears to be a deliberate attempt to dismiss legitimate concerns by associating them with past controversies. This rhetorical strategy aligns more closely with disinformation than misinformation, as it seeks to delegitimize a broad range of expert opinions by linking them to politically charged narratives. The claim lacks factual basis and is designed to sow doubt rather than inform the public.
The Verdict
Donald Trump’s claim that AI safety warnings are exclusively from the left, and that they are part of a coordinated group that previously promoted climate change and “Russia” and “Ukraine” hoaxes, is misleading. While there may be some overlap between certain advocacy groups, the warnings about AI are not confined to one political faction. Industry leaders, bipartisan lawmakers, and independent researchers have all raised concerns about the risks of uncontrolled AI development. Furthermore, the “Russia” and “Ukraine” investigations were not solely driven by Democrats, and the claim that the same people warned about all three issues is factually inaccurate.
This statement constitutes a form of disinformation, as it distorts the reality of AI safety discourse and attempts to frame legitimate concerns as partisan propaganda. By equating AI warnings with previous controversies, Trump is engaging in a rhetorical tactic designed to undermine public trust in expert opinion. Therefore, the claim is rated as MISLEADING.
Counter-misinformation & disinformation investigation conducted by PolicyWire Editorial Desk (PW).