Trump to have dinner with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei at White

President Trump inviting Dario Amodei to dinner is a shrewd move. These two have been icy toward each other for years, mostly because Amodei refused to give the Pentagon unfettered access to Anthropic’s best models. That decision always looked less like principled caution and more like a Silicon Valley founder treating the U.S. military as a reputational hazard. So Trump could have kept the cold shoulder going. Instead, he’s bringing the guy to the White House. That’s not weakness. That’s an open hand with a purpose.

The purpose is obvious: AI leadership can’t happen if key companies won’t work with defense. Amodei wants to talk existential risk and safety cultures. Trump wants American capability, and he understands you don’t get it by sulking. Engagement beats estrangement, even when you’ve been burned. There’s a lesson here for the left, which treats anyone who takes a meeting with Trump as a traitor. A CEO can disagree on one thing and still serve the national interest. That’s how grown-ups operate.

We hope Amodei comes to the table ready to act, not just to speak in techno-cautious circles. This administration is offering him a chance to rebuild trust with the people who actually keep the country safe. A dinner is a start; a real policy shift would be better. Trump knows the future is being built somewhere. It should be built with America’s interests first. Amodei can either be part of that or keep finding reasons why he’s above it. The choice is his, but the table is set.