CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that the Trump administration now trusts Anthropic, after months of clashes between the government and the artificial intelligence company.
Why it matters
The remark represents a notable reversal in a relationship that had been strained by disputes over national security and safeguards for AI technology.
What Lutnick said
When asked by Axios reporter Mike Allen whether he trusts Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, Lutnick replied: “We trust Anthropic.” He added, “They've done what we asked. They're back on the right side. So the answer is: Yes.” The comment was made during an interview on Tuesday.
Big-picture context
The shift in tone comes as Anthropic co-founder Tom Brown has taken on a more visible role in managing the company's interactions with the White House, including a headlining appearance at this week’s G20 Innovation Ministerial. On Wednesday Lutnick introduced Brown to a room of G20 ministers: “Really excited for our conversation, so I'd like to introduce you all to Tom Brown, one of the founders of Anthropic.” Lutnick opened the discussion by inviting Brown to present himself to the international audience: “I don't think they know you so well. Anthropic, of course, is famous, but a little story helps.”
Brown’s remarks
Tom Brown praised President Donald Trump’s recent post on Truth Social about data centers. “I really love Trump's post from earlier this week... where he was pointing out that the data centers are just an enormous source of prosperity,” Brown said, noting that data centers generate jobs and tax revenue and that the way they are designed can bring more power onto the grid. He also emphasized Anthropic’s support for the administration’s ratepayer pledge.
Background and legal developments
Personality differences contributed to earlier tensions between the Trump administration and Anthropic, which this year led to broad export controls on the company’s most advanced models. Brown played an instrumental role in repairing the relationship, holding multiple conversations with Lutnick and National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross.
In August, a federal judge struck down the Pentagon’s blacklisting of Anthropic as a supply-chain risk, ruling that the government’s actions violated the company’s constitutional rights. Separately, Anthropic is contesting another Pentagon designation under a different statute in the D.C. Circuit.
Bottom line
Tom Brown’s increased public role appears to have helped reset a relationship that was previously strained, and Lutnick’s public statement indicates the administration now views Anthropic as responsive to its requests.
