Trump Teases "AI Force," White House Bans CNN and More, America Gets Greenland Deal: AM Update 9/21

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0:43Good morning, everyone. I'm Megan Kelly. It's Monday, September 21st, 2026, and this is your AM Update. Our position is, if you do believe that you're developing a technology that is unsafe or you don't want it out in the world, you can just stop it. The Trump administration dismissing fears about artificial intelligence, announcing an AI force, something the president says will ensure the U.S. outpaces global competitors, including China. There's something wrong with a country that can allow people to write purposely negative stories. Now, if they want to write them, that's fine. But I don't have to let them into the people's house.

1:23The White House turning away reporters from three major news outlets following a truth social post from President Trump announcing they've been banned. President Trump announcing a new deal on Greenland after months of negotiations. And a new ethics complaint accusing Congresswoman Lauren Boebert of having sexual relationships with three of her staffers. Allegations her office calls, quote, utterly false. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM update.

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2:28But listen, Lean is not for the casual dieter with only a few pounds to lose. The doctors at Brickhouse Nutrition created Lean for frustrated dieters with 10 or more pounds to lose. You could get started with 20 % off and free rush shipping. adding lean to your healthy diet and exercise plan. Visit takelean.com and enter MK for your discount. That's promo code MK at takelean.com. President Trump planning to launch what he's calling an AI force while also saying he will appoint an artificial intelligence czar. The news coming as he dismisses fears about the technology, calling them, quote, a hoax.

3:09In a Saturday post on Truth Social, Mr. Trump lumping in concerns about AI, together with a list of what he calls Democrat-driven hoaxes like global warming and men belonging in women's sports, and saying he will not stand by while opponents try to destroy the industry. The president writing, quote, we will not in any way hinder or stifle the growth of this incredible industry. Rather, we will cherish it, help it, and watch over it as it grows. However, we will also be looking for bad, and we can do that very easily with our already existing criminal and civil justice system. For this purpose, I am forming the AI force, much like I did Space Force, which has been a tremendous success.

3:50Mr. Trump also posting an online poll on X asking followers whether AI or artificial intelligence should be renamed superior, extreme, or supreme intelligence. Trump later saying supreme intelligence was losing badly and reducing the choice to extreme or superior intelligence. White House Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratzios explaining the need for such a force on Fox News Sunday. I think the thing that he's describing is how important it is that we as an administration coordinate in order to make sure that this great technological innovation that's transforming the country, that's driving economic growth, continues to do so.

4:31And these implications of AI spread across so many different agencies. So be able to have someone at the White House to be able to work on all those issues across the agencies is really critical. Kratzios also addressing the concerns throughout the industry, although falsely painting them as solely a leftist worry. These calls from the left on the Hill are fear-mongering. And it's something that they're attempting to do before the election. And that's just not fair to the American people. If you want to do good technology policy on AI, you're not going to run to the Hill and sort it out in a couple days.

5:04The second piece around the AI companies themselves, it's very interesting that they talk about these issues, about how scared they are about potentially where the future is and maybe they want to do a pause. Our position is if you do believe that you're developing a technology that is unsafe or you don't want it out in the world, you can just stop it. You don't need someone to force you to do that. And I think that's what's been a bit confusing about this whole narrative. So there's leaders of these companies that are going out and saying we're going to do all these measures. The government has to do all these things.

5:34when in reality, they just need to slow down if they feel that they need to do so. The pressure over AI regulation ramping up over the past few weeks, following former anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon's public resignation and viral warning that the technology could end humanity in a matter of years. Senator Bernie Sanders proposing a one-time 50 % tax on AI and a ban on parts of it. Meantime, former President Barack Obama on Saturday discussing the issue at an event at Colgate University, saying the technology is not overhyped, and with it comes a small but very real risk. What is happening right now is we have reached this point of what's called recursive learning, where essentially, and we had anticipated this, but we're now seeing it, the machines are starting to be able to teach themselves.

6:26They don't have to wait for humans to start figuring things out. It doesn't mean that they are necessarily feel malice towards humans. It's just that if they start setting their own agendas, you may get a misalignment between what they want to do and what we want them to do. And that gap can be dangerous. Some prominent figures in the industry, like NVIDIA's Jensen Huang, believe this Doomer talk is overblown. He tells CBS Sunday morning he does not understand the end-of-the-world claims. I believe the claims of the end of the world stirring fear across America and doing it by the people who are doing it makes no sense to me.

7:17So they must be doing it for ulterior reasons. Maybe it's political, maybe it's otherwise, maybe it's just attention-grabbing, maybe so that they could get a great interview with you. I don't know what is the reason for it, but however it's characterized, 2030 is not going to be the end of the world. There is 0 % chance that's going to be the end of the world. And so I think that scaring people is unnecessary. It is irresponsible. And I don't know what their motives are. This week, President Trump will be hosting top tech executives at the White House, including Sam Altman, Jensen Huang, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Google founder Sundar Pichai.

8:03Mr. Trump also reportedly planning an AI event at the UN in New York City this week. The White House press pool getting a bit smaller over the weekend, following President Trump announcing a ban of CNN, MSNOW, and Politico on Friday. Mr. Trump writing on Truth Social that he is, quote, banning fake news CNN, MSNOW, who recently changed their name from MSNBC due to lack of viewership and credibility, and Politico, end quote, from the White House due to their, quote, constant reporting fake news. The president warning he might extend the ban to other outlets. Mr. Trump taking questions regarding the ban's legality in the Oval Office following the announcement on Friday.

8:46I don't think somebody You should be allowed to come in and write fake stories. They're fake news. And that's why they have no credibility. That's why, so I had 96 % negative coverage during the election, and I won. Because they have no credibility. I got 96. I guess NBC was 93 % negative. So 93, with all of the victories I've had, everything's been a victory. It's all been a victory. And I won the election like nobody's ever seen anything like it. I get no, they never write a good story. They won't write a story, but I just reduced drug prices by 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 percent. I will get a good story out of these people.

9:30From some of them I will. I'll get one from him. I'll get one from him. I'll get a few of them. But it's sick. I mean, there's something wrong with a country that can allow people to write purposely negative stories. Now, if they want to write them, that's fine, but I don't have to let them into the people's house. On Saturday, security officers stationed at the West Wing entrance collecting press badges from MS Now's Akela Gardner, CNN's Betsy Kline, and Politico's Cheyenne Hazlitt, and barring their entry. Hear Gardner speaking about her experience on MS Now. I arrived here as I do many days of the week, many weekends, and I walked through the first entrance gate.

10:15I said good morning to the officers. I was able to walk through freely. Then I entered the second gate with no issues. I showed my badge. And then once I was inside where we have magnetometers, I attempted to scan my badge, which we have to do, enable to get into the White House grounds. It did not work. There was a red beeping light. And so the officer asked me to hand over my badge. He said that it was disabled. I asked why I was not able to get inside. He said it was above him. And then our producer after me also scanned her badge and it actually worked. She was able to get through and into the White House.

10:51But I want to say not just me, but also our photographer had their badge taken this morning. Of course, after President Trump made clear that he wants to ban MSNOW, CNN and Politico. Yesterday, our journalists were able to stay here working on the White House grounds. This is the first action we know of them actually denying us entry into the White House. During Mr. Trump's first term, the White House losing a legal fight over CNN reporter Jim Acosta's revoked press pass, with his credentials eventually being restored. In February 2025, Trump blocked the AP from the Oval Office and Air Force One.

11:27The AP sued and won based on First Amendment grounds, then lost on appeal and the litigation remains pending. All three recently banned outlets say they will fight the ban, with First Amendment experts calling the move unconstitutional. Here's Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression attorney Connor Fitzpatrick speaking to Jake Tapper on CNN Friday. It is flatly unconstitutional and it violates the First Amendment. You know, this is America's 250th anniversary. And one of the reasons we split from Britain is that they would not allow the press to criticize the king. But given today's statement from President Trump, it certainly seems like he has a lot more affinity for King George III than he does for Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.

12:09One hopes that there will be solidarity within the news corps pushing back on these unconstitutional infringements of freedom of the press. Because if you allow it under one party and under one president, the next president is going to come in and do the same thing. The First Amendment mandates neutrality from the government towards the press. The government isn't supposed to like the press. The press isn't there to make the government happy. It is there to inform the people. The first chance for the media to significantly push back comes today, with CNN scheduled to serve as the TV pool crew for the president's trip to the U.N.

12:41General Assembly. The other networks in the rotation for that duty weighing whether to decline filling in. A similar action took place in 2009 when networks stood together against the Obama administration after it attempted to exclude Fox News from a pool interview with an administration official. The Obama White House eventually backing down. Speaking of the Obama administration, the former president hypocritically attacking his successor at the Colgate event Saturday night. Listen to this. I believe there was just an announcement that the White House decided, you know what, CNN, MSN, MSNOW, maybe the New York Times was included, you just can't come to the White House press briefings anymore because you're giving the current president unfavorable coverage.

13:31I'm trying to think what would have happened if I had said, you know what, Fox News, you're out of here. It's unimaginable. But the point I'm making here is that if you have a certain cohort, let's call it 30 to 35 percent of the country right now, which thinks that's okay, well, what that means is we have not developed the kind of understanding of what democracy requires. And we've got to shore that back up. I don't think that's inevitable. I don't think all is lost on that front. But we have to roll up our sleeves and get working. Meanwhile, White House Correspondents Association President and Fox News reporter Jackie Heinrich, writing on X Saturday, quote, today's action revoking access for journalists from CNN, Politico, and MSNOW violates the First Amendment.

14:21The White House Correspondents Association calls on the administration to immediately restore our colleagues' access. Coming up, President Trump touting a new agreement with Denmark around Greenland, although we won't be buying the joint, as it turns out. And Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert denying claims from a new ethics complaint alleging she had sexual relationships with multiple staffers.

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15:28Simply go to relieffactor.com or call 1-800-4-RELIEF. You will connect with their friendly local team and they will do everything they can to help. And maybe you will be sharing your story with them soon too. President Trump announcing a deal with Denmark and Greenland to expand America's military footprint in the Arctic Territory. And while all parties involved expect to sign an agreement at this week's UN General Assembly, they are describing somewhat different terms. Mr. Trump announcing his administration's perspective on Friday night, writing on Truth Social, the agreement, quote, gives the U.S.

16:05permanent control over security and all other needs in Greenland, completely addressing all of our many U.S. concerns. There will be no cost to the United States. The president continuing, quote, additionally from now on, no U.S. adversary can ever have a base in Greenland, have a military presence in Greenland, or make sensitive investments in Greenland without our express written approval. Danish and Greenlandic leaders spinning it a bit differently. Denmark's Prime Minister, Meta Fredriksen, writing in a statement, quote, I am glad there is a prospect of a good agreement for Greenland, the Kingdom of Denmark and the USA, an agreement that strengthens our collective security in the Arctic and the North Atlantic region and is also good for NATO and Europe, and an agreement that at the same time recognizes the Kingdom's sovereignty and territorial integrity and the right of the Greenlandic people to self-determination.

17:00A U.S. military official telling the New York Times that American forces will work alongside their Danish and Greenlandic counterparts and will not take charge. Mr. Trump's initial position in the early days of his second term related to Greenland was that anything less than the U.S. ownership was unacceptable, but Mr. Trump often seeks maximalist positions and ultimately settles for something less, a tactic outlined in his Art of the Deal book. Since then, negotiators meeting roughly once a month in Washington. U.S. military officials have recently been visiting Greenland to look at reopening old Cold War bases.

17:38Only one, Bidoufique Space Base, is currently still operational. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicating U.S. ownership of Greenland is no longer a goal, writing on X, quote, Greenland will forever be part of the strategic defense area of North America and exclude any adversary from it and the surrounding area. This deal permanently and completely addresses our national security concerns in Greenland. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz explaining just how crucial this deal is for American security on CNN's State of the Union yesterday. The Arctic is something that the president has been focused on as part of protecting the United States.

18:19People should understand that if we're ever attacked by any type of intercontinental missiles, they'll come over the Arctic. Our radars, our sensors are incredibly important up there. They need to be defended. We need to have full access. Now, President Trump has an icebreaker deal in place with Finland. He has the spending that he's driving coming out of NATO and will now have the full access and basing that we need for iron dome, access to critical minerals, access to the energy reserves that are up there. And importantly, we're starting to see shipping flow through as the ice retreats. We're starting to see shipping bypass checkpoints or global choke points like the Suez Canal, Panama Canal, Straits of Hormuz and go over the top through the Arctic.

19:07So it's incredibly important. Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert of Colorado strongly denying allegations that she had sexual relations with three of her staff members, including two women. The House of Representatives ethics complaint filed Thursday. It names former district director Clarice Navarro-Ratzlaff, former chief of staff Jeremy Small, and current district chief of staff Raven Finnegan as Boebert's staffers. The complaint, not stemming from an investigation from inside the House of Representatives, it was instead filed by David Wheeler, who leads an anti-GOP political action committee called American Muckrakers.

19:47He alleges the relationship between Boebert and Navarro Ratzlaff began in 2021 and involved campaign-funded hotel rooms. Wheeler claims Ratzlaff received a$200 ,000 payout last year after threatening to file her own ethics complaint. Wheeler says his filing relies on House financial disclosures and unnamed sources. When it comes to the$200 ,000 in alleged hush money, the report states, quote, the source of the funds is presently unknown. The report does not detail the accusations regarding Small or Finnegan. The 39-year-old congresswoman denying the accusations in a statement to Sources Say News, quote, well, I'm not a lesbian or bisexual, and I have never, ever been in any inappropriate relationship, nor have I ever been sexually involved with any staff.

20:34Her office calling the claims, quote, utterly false. Last night, Boebert addressing it directly in a video on X. Nobody in your newsroom checked the rulebook before they put, my team's names in your stories. Their photos are everywhere now and they are under attack because of your laziness. You are all aware that this is coming from the same desperate hack CNN caught in 2022 publishing a photo of another woman as me and also failing to prove a host of other lies that he's created about me. You ran this story anyway. I hope you think about the impact that this could have on them and their families the next time you rush to print without doing a little bit of research.

21:20So while you sit back and think of how you can do your jobs better, I am going to continue serving Colorado's fourth district. I hate to spoil the fan fiction, but y 'all need to do better. And to the people who have had my back, thank you. And I hope you see how desperate these fools are to get me out of office. Navarro Ratzlaff also denying the allegations, telling the Colorado Times recorder, quote, these allegations regarding me are entirely false, defamatory, and beyond ridiculous. There is absolutely no truth to any part of this claim. Mr. Wheeler, who has gone after Boebert for years, has a history of factually dubious reporting.

22:01His past claims include allegations that the Colorado Congresswoman previously worked as an escort, according to the New York Post, though critics quickly blasting that claim when he used a picture of someone who was not Lauren Boebert. In 2022, Boebert issuing a restraining order against Wheeler after the report, though a judge eventually dismissing that case, according to Colorado Public Radio. Boebert threatening to sue Wheeler for defamation before Wheeler beat her to the punch and filing his own defamation lawsuit against her back in 2023, claiming her denials of his reporting were defamatory lies.

22:37That case settled out of court, per The Post. And that'll do it for your AM Update. I'm Megan Kelly. Join me back here for the MK Show, live on SiriusXM's The Megan Kelly Channel, 111 at noon east, on youtube.com slash megankelly, and on all podcast platforms.

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