Commerce Secretary Lutnick States Trust in Anthropic Amid Improved Relations

<p><strong>CHAPEL HILL, N.C. —</strong> Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that the Trump administration now trusts Anthropic following months of conflicts with the AI company.</p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> This statement indicates a significant shift in a relationship that had been strained due to disagreements over national security and AI safeguards.</p><hr /><p><strong>What they're saying:</strong> When asked about his trust in Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, Lutnick told Axios' Mike Allen: "We trust Anthropic." </p><ul><li>"They've done what we asked. They're back on the right side. So the answer is: Yes," Lutnick said in an interview on Tuesday.</li></ul><p><strong>The big picture:</strong> This declaration comes as Anthropic co-founder Tom Brown takes on a more prominent role in the company's relationship with the White House, including a significant appearance at this week's G20 Innovation Ministerial.</p><ul><li>"Really excited for our conversation, so I'd like to introduce you all to Tom Brown, one of the founders of Anthropic," Lutnick said on Wednesday to a gathering of G20 ministers.</li><li>Lutnick initiated the discussion by allowing Brown to introduce himself to an international audience: "I don't think they know you so well. Anthropic, of course, is famous, but a little story helps."</li></ul><p><strong>What they're saying:</strong> Brown expressed support for President Trump's pro-data center post on Truth Social this week.</p><ul><li>"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 stated.</li><li>"They produce a ton of jobs. They produce taxes. Now the way that we design them, we actually bring on more power to the grid," he added.</li><li>Brown also noted Anthropic's support for the administration's ratepayer pledge.</li></ul><p><strong>Between the lines:</strong> The industry recognizes that aligning with the Trump administration can significantly influence policy priorities.</p><p><strong>Catch up quick:</strong> Personality differences contributed to tensions between the Trump administration and Anthropic earlier this year, leading to extensive export controls on the company's most advanced models.</p><ul><li>Brown was instrumental in repairing the relationship, engaging in multiple discussions with Lutnick and National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross.</li><li>A federal judge in August ruled against the Pentagon's blacklisting of Anthropic as a supply-chain risk, determining that the government's actions violated Anthropic's constitutional rights.</li><li>The company is also contesting a separate Pentagon designation under a different statute in the D.C. Circuit.</li></ul><p><strong>The bottom line:</strong> Brown represents a reset for a company that was previously at odds with the White House.</p>