Washington views AI leaders as a political liability due to their inconsistent messaging and focus on existential risks. Instead of promoting AI's benefits, industry figures like Sam Altman often alternate between promises of prosperity and warnings of doom. This creates political instability and public backlash, according to lawmakers. Republicans and Democrats alike express distrust, with some criticizing AI CEOs for cozying up to Donald Trump. Democrats especially see an opportunity to capitalize on public resentment towards tech billionaires and the perceived threats of AI to jobs and livelihoods.Administration officials are particularly disgruntled with Anthropic, citing instances where the company allegedly hid safety incidents and then caused confusion with an AI safety bill proposal. The bill's inclusion of federal preemption and a definition of catastrophic incidents involving 50 or more deaths drew significant backlash. This topsy-turvy advocacy has led to growing distrust in Washington. OpenAI also faces scrutiny, with its legislative strategy drawing criticism for being vague and potentially aiming to block state-level regulation. These issues contribute to widespread public distrust, with a majority of Americans viewing AI negatively.