A Notable Shift in Tone

President Donald Trump has signaled a softening in his view of artificial intelligence company Anthropic, saying he no longer considers it a national security threat. The development around Trump Anthropic national security concerns came in an interview with “The Axios Show” published on Friday, marking a clear change from his position just a week earlier.

The reversal follows a tense dispute over foreign access to Anthropic’s most advanced AI models.

The Background of the Dispute

The conflict centered on access to two of Anthropic’s most powerful models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5.

Last week, Anthropic disabled access to those models for all users after Trump ordered the company to block foreign nationals from using them. The standoff prompted senior Anthropic technical staff to schedule meetings with Trump administration officials earlier this week to work through the disagreement over foreign access.

What Trump Said

In the Axios interview, Trump offered candid remarks about how his thinking had evolved. Several key points emerged from the conversation:

• When asked whether he viewed Anthropic or its CEO Dario Amodei as a national security threat, Trump replied: “Well, not now, but a week ago, maybe.”
• Trump praised Amodei’s handling of the situation, saying he responded to the administration’s export control directive “very quickly” and “responsibly.”
• Trump and other G7 leaders met with tech executives, including Amodei, at a summit in France this week.

The Defense Production Act Looms

Despite his warmer tone, Trump did not entirely close the door on aggressive action. According to Axios, he declined to rule out using emergency powers under the Defense Production Act (DPA) against Anthropic.

“I have the power to use a lot of things,” Trump said of the DPA. “But I’m not sure I have to do that.” The comment suggested that while tensions have eased, the administration is keeping its options open.

Anthropic’s Response

For its part, Anthropic struck a cooperative and conciliatory note. Asked to comment on Trump’s interview, an Anthropic spokesperson expressed gratitude for the administration’s ongoing partnership in working to resolve the matter as quickly as possible.

The spokesperson reaffirmed the company’s commitment to working alongside the administration toward shared goals — namely, protecting critical infrastructure and ensuring the United States leads in AI.

What Comes Next

The thaw between Trump and Anthropic suggests both sides are moving toward resolution, even as the underlying questions about foreign access to advanced AI models remain. With meetings underway and the DPA still on the table, the situation reflects the broader balancing act between national security concerns and maintaining America’s edge in artificial intelligence.

For now, the shift in Trump’s rhetoric points to easing tensions — though how the dispute ultimately resolves remains to be seen.