Trump states that he no longer considers Anthropic a national security risk following his G7 meeting with the company's CEO.

      TL;DR: Trump stated in an Axios interview that Anthropic has "behaved very responsibly" and hinted he might relax restrictions on its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 AI models. In the interview, he indicated that he no longer sees Anthropic as a national security threat, a notable change from the previous administration's stance. He acknowledged his past concerns about the company but remarked, “Well, not now. But a week ago, maybe.”

      These comments followed a Commerce Department directive issued on June 12, which required Anthropic to obtain government approval before allowing foreign nationals access to its powerful AI systems. This directive stemmed from ongoing tensions over Anthropic's refusal to remove certain safety measures from its military products, leading to urgent discussions between the company and Commerce officials.

      Trump met with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei at the G7 Summit, which seems to have influenced his view. He expressed openness to easing restrictions but was uncertain if it was necessary. The conflict began in March 2026 when the Pentagon labeled Anthropic a supply-chain risk due to its stance on security features, which led to threats of criminal charges from Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and unrest within the tech industry.

      The change in Trump's tone comes as Anthropic confidentially filed for an IPO in early June, valued at around $965 billion, and any easing of federal restrictions could boost investor confidence. Trump noted the situation had become a "tremendous liability" for his administration, reflecting backlash from the industry and allies. While he affirmed he wouldn't shut down Anthropic, he did not specify when the Commerce directive might be lifted.

      Despite the shift in Trump's attitude, the core disagreement remains unresolved. The Pentagon’s designation and the June 12 directive are still in effect, and Anthropic has yet to clarify if it will adjust its policies to meet military requirements.

      What’s notable now is Trump’s willingness to negotiate rather than escalate tensions. Amodei has been seeking solutions, and at the G7 summit, he, along with Google DeepMind’s Demis Hassabis, promoted a US-led AI coalition, framing Anthropic as a constructive partner in technology diplomacy. This strategy seems to have enabled Amodei to connect with Trump when the president was more open to dialogue.

      Whether these positive remarks will translate into actual policy changes remains uncertain. The Commerce Department operates independently regarding export controls, and reverting a formal directive involves bureaucratic processes that a single interview cannot expedite. For Anthropic, the Axios interview represents a political victory, but legal and regulatory challenges stay in place until there is administrative action.