WASHINGTON, April 21 - U.S. President Donald Trump told CNBC on Tuesday that AI developer Anthropic was "shaping up" from the administration's perspective and that he would be open to a deal enabling the company to return to contracting with defense officials.
In February, Trump directed federal agencies to place Anthropic on a procurement blacklist, stating the company's new "Mythos" system posed a supply chain risk. Anthropic has rejected that characterization and pursued legal action, filing a suit against the Defense Department in March challenging the determination.
Last week, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei held meetings with White House officials aimed at repairing the relationship between the company and the administration. The White House described the meeting as productive and constructive. Speaking on CNBC's "Squawk Box," the president said, "They came to the White House a few days ago, and we had some very good talks with them. And I think they're shaping up. They're very smart, and I think they can be of great use. I like smart people."
The ongoing dispute centers on the February procurement directive and the subsequent legal challenge filed by Anthropic in March. The company's lawsuit contests the Defense Department's removal of Anthropic from consideration for government projects, a move that followed the administration's supply chain concerns regarding the Mythos system.
White House officials and Anthropic representatives sought to engage directly last week in what was publicly characterized as a step toward mending ties. The president's comments on CNBC indicate a willingness to consider arrangements that could allow Anthropic to resume work with defense agencies, pending resolution of the outstanding procurement and legal matters.
This episode highlights a sequence of actions that began with the February directive to blacklist Anthropic, continued with the March lawsuit, and most recently included face-to-face talks at the White House described as productive. The president's public remarks underscore an openness to restoring a working relationship, while the legal dispute remains active.
Contextual note - The facts reported here are limited to the sequence of events described by the administration, Anthropic's responses, the meeting between Anthropic leadership and White House officials, the legal filing in March, and President Trump's comments to CNBC. No additional determinations about the outcome or timing of any potential agreement have been reported.