Johnson bashes China on AI, Trump calls DeepSeek development "positive"

Context: DeepSeek's latest models of showed capabilities rivaling those of U.S. competitors, all while being built at a fraction of the cost.

What they're saying: Johnson during a press briefing Monday called China's government "a terrible trading partner, saying: "They abuse the system, they steal our intellectual property."

• Apparently alluding to DeepSeek, he said: "They're now trying to get a leg up on us in AI as you've seen in the last day or so."

Separately, Trump said during in an address to House Republicans Monday at his Doral, Florida, resort the "release of DeepSeek AI from a Chinese company should be a wakeup call for our industries that we need to be laser focused on competing to win."

• He said the technology could be "a positive development."

Our thought bubble, via Axios' Ben Berkowitz: The tone of Trump's remarks, and their contrast with Johnson's, stand as another sign of his softening stance on China in this administration versus the last.

• It's not clear whose view on DeepSeek will win out, though it's a fair bet Congress will hear Trump's message loud and clear.

Go deeper: Trump threatens 10% tariff on China as of Feb. 1