The Trump administration is currently advancing two distinct policy agendas: a renewed focus on tariff-based trade strategies and a new framework for assessing the security of advanced artificial intelligence. Regarding trade, reports indicate the administration is exploring a 'Plan B' approach to tariffs, drawing historical comparisons to the 1930 Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act to address current economic and ideological objectives.

Simultaneously, the administration has unveiled a framework for testing frontier AI models for cybersecurity risks. This policy, stemming from a June executive order, requires AI companies to share their models with the federal government for safety evaluations. However, the scope of this testing is a point of divergence in reporting. The Verge notes that the guidelines are voluntary and explicitly exclude open-source AI models. According to these reports, the framework states that it cannot be used to restrict or regulate open models once they have been made available for public inspection. Conversely, the Washington Examiner’s coverage focuses on the broader ideological shift toward protectionism, framing the tariff strategy as a significant departure from previous trade norms. While the administration presents these AI guidelines as a safety measure, critics suggest the exclusion of open models limits the framework's overall effectiveness in addressing potential security threats.