My tinfoil hat theory:

- The AI companies came to the White House to ask for legal protections and concessions, expecting a fight

- The Trump administration rolled over completely and wholeheartedly, and the companies were surprised how easily he did it and what (to them) sane positions he took

- Trump's earnest enthusiasm for AI looks really bad by association

- AI insiders are now seeding him with increasingly insane ideas in order to create distance from the "sane" positions the industry is taking