Topline
Anthropic has mended its relationship with the White House, according to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, after a bitter dispute earlier this year over the Pentagon’s use of its AI models.
Anthropic co-founder Tom Brown listens to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick during the G20 Innovation Ministerial on September 2, 2026 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
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Key Facts
Lutnick said Anthropic “has done what we asked” and is “back on the right side,” adding that the Commerce Department now “trusts Anthropic.” He made the remarks at the G20 Innovation Ministerial in North Carolina when Axios asked about the rapprochement.
At the summit, Anthropic co‑founder Tom Brown praised President Donald Trump’s support for data‑center expansion, citing a recent Trump post that highlighted the economic benefits of these facilities.
The initial rift began when Anthropic pushed for safeguards against the military’s use of its AI in mass surveillance and autonomous weapons. In response, Trump ordered federal agencies to stop using the company, calling it “a radical left, woke company” and accusing its leaders of “strong‑arming” the Defense Department.
The Pentagon later labeled Anthropic a supply‑chain risk in March, prompting the firm to sue. Anthropic alleged an “unlawful campaign of retaliation” by the administration. A federal judge ruled last week that the Pentagon’s action was unlawful, ending the punitive measures against the AI company.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
