Scoop: Anthropic to have peace talks at White House
Axios
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Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei is scheduled to walk into the West Wing on Friday for a meeting with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles — a breakthrough in his effort to resolve the company's bitter https://www.axios.com/technology/automation-and-ai" target="_blank">AI fight with the Pentagon.
Why it matters: The Trump administration recognizes the power of Anthropic's new Claude model, https://www.anthropic.com/glasswing" target="_blank">Mythos, and its highly sophisticated — and potentially dangerous — ability to https://www.axios.com/2026/04/08/mythos-system-card" target="_blank">breach cybersecurity defenses.
- "It would be grossly irresponsible for the U.S. government to deprive itself of the technological leaps that the new model presents," a source close to negotiations told us. "It would be a gift to China."
Reminder: Anthropic is https://www.axios.com/2026/04/02/trump-administration-appeals-anthropic-pentagon" target="_blank">suing the Pentagon for https://x.com/SecWar/status/2027507717469049070" target="_blank">blacklisting the company after Amodei https://www.anthropic.com/news/where-stand-department-war" target="_blank">refused to allow his AI to be used without restrictions.
- Some parts of the U.S. https://www.intelligence.gov/" target="_blank">intelligence community, plus the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA, part of Homeland Security), are testing Mythos.
Treasury and others want it.
Behind the scenes: After Anthropic took the administration to court, negotiations with the Pentagon chilled.
But Anthropic has hired key Trumpworld consultants — so expect a deal.
Friday's meeting is designed to pave the way.
Flashback: This is the second time Amodei has held a high-stakes meeting with a top Trump official this year.
- In late February, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave Amodei until the end of the week to accept the Pentagon's terms, or else.
Anthropic didn't.
- Since then, the Pentagon and Anthropic have been locked in a legal and political feud.
Some in the administration think the fight is growing counterproductive.
💡 If you're a CEO or on a CEO's team: https://www.axios.com/newsletters/c-suite" target="_blank">Apply here for free admission to Jim's new Axios C-Suite weekly newsletter.
- https://www.axios.com/2026/04/16/white-house-anthropic-ai-mythos-government-national-security" target="_blank">Go deeper: Trump officials negotiating access to Anthropic's Mythos despite blacklist.
Anthropic CEO meets White House
- Scoop: Bessent and Wiles met Anthropic's Amodei in sign of thaw Axios —
- White House chief of staff to meet with Anthropic CEO about dangerous new Mythos model, official says Fortune —
- White House meets AI firm Anthropic amid political tensions, Pentagon dispute Fox News —
- White House chief of staff to meet with Anthropic CEO over its new AI technology CTV News —
- Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei arrives at White House for talks The Straits Times —