Exclusive: Trump tells “The Axios Show” that Anthropic was a national security threat President Trump revealed that he viewed AI company Anthropic as a national security threat the previous week, although he indicated that relations have since improved. The company faced government restrictions, including export controls, following security concerns reportedly raised by Amazon. Anthropic is now collaborating with the administration to establish AI safety standards, and Trump believes the U.S. is significantly ahead of China in AI development.

• President Trump stated he considered Anthropic a national security threat the previous week, but relations have since improved.
• The U.S. government imposed export controls and designated Anthropic as a supply chain risk, actions typically reserved for foreign adversaries.
• Concerns arose after a report from Amazon detailed a vulnerability, and the administration felt dismissed by Anthropic leadership.
• Discussions are underway to establish standards for evaluating AI jailbreaks, and Anthropic is learning to better communicate with the administration.
• Trump did not rule out using emergency powers under the Defense Production Act but suggested it might not be necessary.
• Amazon is identified as a competitor and part owner that raised concerns about Anthropic’s actions.
• Anthropic expressed gratitude for the administration’s partnership in resolving the matter and commitment to protecting critical infrastructure.
• Trump emphasized that the U.S. lead over China in AI development outweighs political clashes with AI companies.
• The relationship between the White House and Anthropic appears to be improving, but international cooperation on AI safety remains uncertain. Continue reading https://www.axios.com/2026/06/19/trump-anthropic-national-security-the-axios-show