Archive · 3 Sep 2026
Anthropic Regains Favor With Trump Administration, Commerce Chief Says
Anthropic makes an artificial-intelligence system called Claude.
The company did not want the U.S. government to use Claude for domestic surveillance or autonomous weapons.
Because of that disagreement, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth blocked Anthropic from some military contracts.
Anthropic took the military to court in California.
On August 27, a judge sided with Anthropic.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick later said Anthropic was again on good terms with the Trump administration.
Anthropic co-founder Tom Brown also spoke at a technology event in North Carolina.
He asked countries to make it easier to approve new data centers.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Anthropic is “back on the right side” with the Trump administration.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had blocked Anthropic from certain military contracts.
The restrictions followed Anthropic’s refusal to permit domestic surveillance or autonomous weapons use of Claude.
Anthropic sued the U.S. military in California over the dispute.
A U.S. judge sided with Anthropic on August 27, while co-founder Tom Brown promoted data-center development at a G20 event.
- Who
- Anthropic, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Anthropic co-founder Tom Brown.
- What
- A dispute over Anthropic’s use of Claude in military applications appears to be easing, according to Lutnick.
- When
- Lutnick made the comments on Wednesday; a judge sided with Anthropic on August 27.
- Where
- The court case was in California, and Brown spoke at a G20 technology event in North Carolina.
- Why
- Anthropic opposed allowing Claude to be used for domestic surveillance or autonomous weapons, while U.S. officials sought military access.
Anthropic’s Safety Position
Military Access Position
Use of Claude
Anthropic’s Safety Position
Anthropic refused to allow Claude to be used for domestic surveillance or autonomous weapons.
Military Access Position
The U.S. military blocked Anthropic from certain contracts after the company rejected those uses.
Legal dispute
Anthropic’s Safety Position
Anthropic challenged the military’s restrictions in a California court, and a judge sided with the company on August 27.
Military Access Position
The military imposed restrictions on Anthropic’s contracts over the company’s limits on AI use.
Relationship with the administration
Anthropic’s Safety Position
Anthropic’s position led to conflict with parts of the Trump administration, though Lutnick now says the company is “back on the right side.”
Military Access Position
Lutnick’s comments indicate the administration considers its relationship with Anthropic to have improved.
- Company
- Anthropic
- AI model
- Claude
- Commerce Secretary
- Howard Lutnick
- Defense Secretary
- Pete Hegseth
- Court ruling
- A U.S. judge sided with Anthropic on August 27.
- Disputed uses
- Domestic surveillance and autonomous weapons
- Separate event
- Tom Brown urged officials to approve data-center construction at a G20 technology event in North Carolina.