Anthropic’s ties to the Trump administration appear to be thawing

Thaw at the top

Despite the Pentagon labeling Anthropic a supply‑chain risk, the company is still in front of senior figures in the administration. It has been reported that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell quietly encouraged major banks to try Anthropic’s new Mythos model — a sign that not everyone in Washington wants to shut the door. Jack Clark, Anthropic’s co‑founder, called the fight with the Pentagon a “narrow contracting dispute” and said it wouldn’t prevent the company from briefing government officials about its models.

Meetings and messaging

It has been reported that Bessent and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles met with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei; the White House described the encounter as an “introductory meeting” that was “productive and constructive.” Anthropic echoed that tone, saying the discussion covered collaboration, cybersecurity, AI safety and “America’s lead in the AI race,” and that it looks forward to continuing talks. Short, careful words — but they matter. After weeks of frosty headlines, a handshake at the top feels like progress.

A split inside the government

The backstory is thorny. The Pentagon’s supply‑chain risk designation followed failed negotiations over military use of Anthropic’s tech, after Anthropic sought limits on autonomous weapons and mass surveillance. The company is challenging the designation in court. Meanwhile, it has been reported that an administration source believes “every agency” except the Department of Defense wants access to Anthropic’s models — a reminder that Washington’s AI policy is less a monolith and more a tug‑of‑war.

What comes next

So where does this leave us? For Anthropic, the emotional pivot is clear: relief, cautious optimism, maybe a little vindication. For the administration, it’s a balancing act between national security caution and the race to stay competitive in AI. The legal fight with the Pentagon continues, but the message from other senior officials is unmistakable — they want to keep talking. Will talk turn into contracts? Stay tuned; the thaw may be real, but the ice isn’t gone yet.

Sources: techcrunch