President Donald Trump told Time magazine on October 1, 2026, that Anthropic chief Dario Amodei is "very smart," days after the two held a private dinner at the White House. The comments point to a possible easing of tensions between the administration and Anthropic, which had been fighting the Pentagon in court over restrictions on how its AI may be used. The dinner took place on the evening of September 27/28, 2026, marking the first one-on-one meeting between Trump and Amodei. It followed Amodei’s absence from a White House state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping because of scheduling conflicts and combined personal and strategic purposes. Amodei was expected to attend a subsequent meeting between Trump and AI industry leaders. The dispute centers on Anthropic’s restrictions on fully autonomous weapons and domestic surveillance. In 2026, the Pentagon designated Anthropic a "supply chain risk," and a federal appeals court upheld that designation on or around September 25, 2026. Amodei had also published a September 12, 2026, essay arguing for a slowdown in AI development, contrasting with an administration focused on accelerating technology development amid competition with China. The relationship carries particular importance as Anthropic pursues a highly anticipated IPO (initial public offering). The next issues to watch are whether the follow-up summit changes the administration’s approach to AI safety, whether the Pentagon reconsiders its position on Anthropic’s usage restrictions, and how the company describes its government relationships ahead of a public listing.