In what can be called a major diplomatic reversal following months of bitter friction over artificial intelligence (AI) safety protocols and national defense boundaries, the Trump administration officially trusts Anthropic, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed this week. Speaking in an interview with Axios, Lutnick responded to a direct question whether he places confidence in Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei.
The report says that the turnaround in relations arrived after Anthropic co-founder Tom Brown assumed a central role in managing the startup’s relationship with Washington. “We trust Anthropic. They’ve done what we asked. They’re back on the right side. So the answer is: Yes,” Lutnick responded. As per the report, personal friction between top officials and corporate leaders had also compounded those clashes, driving the firm away from executive favour. Lutnick showcased the improved alliance by personally introducing Brown before a global audience of dignitaries at the G20 Innovation Ministerial, inviting the co-founder to tell his story on the international stage, the report noted. In behind-the-scenes diplomacy, Brown proved critical in mending fences across official channels, reportedly conducting extensive bilateral discussions with Lutnick and National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross. The shift comes amid shifting courtroom battles over prior regulatory crackdowns. A federal judge recently struck down the Pentagon’s blacklisting of Anthropic as a supply-chain hazard, determining that the punitive designation infringed upon the technology company’s constitutional protections.
The remarks signal a major de-icing of ties that earlier this year resulted in sweeping export restrictions targeting Anthropic’s most capable foundation models. Anthropic is continuing to litigate an additional Pentagon designation invoked under a different statute before the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.