Trump orders federal agencies to stop using Anthropic’s AI models, says ‘leftwing nut jobs’ made ‘disastrous mistake’
President Trump Halts Federal Agencies’ Collaboration with Anthropic
President Trump announced on Friday that he has instructed all federal agencies to immediately stop working with Anthropic, labeling the AI company’s leadership as “leftwing nut jobs.”
Trump’s declaration abruptly ended a heated dispute between Anthropic and the Pentagon. The Pentagon had given Anthropic a deadline of 5:01 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday to remove certain restrictions on the use of its Claude chatbot by the US military.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump criticized Anthropic, stating, “The Leftwing nut jobs at Anthropic have made a DISASTROUS MISTAKE trying to STRONG-ARM the Department of War, and force them to obey their Terms of Service instead of our Constitution. Their selfishness is putting AMERICAN LIVES at risk, our Troops in danger, and our National Security in JEOPARDY.”
Trump went on to direct all federal agencies in the US government to cease using Anthropic’s technology immediately, emphasizing that there is no need or desire for further collaboration with the company.
Despite the Pentagon’s silence on the matter, Anthropic representatives did not respond to requests for comment.
Trump mentioned a six-month phase-out period for the Pentagon and other agencies currently utilizing Anthropic’s models. The company had secured a $200 million contract with the Pentagon in July of the previous year.
If Anthropic fails to cooperate during the transition period, Trump warned of using the “Full Power of the Presidency” to ensure compliance, with potential civil and criminal consequences for the company.
Anthropic and its CEO, Dario Amodei, have expressed concerns over the use of their technology for mass surveillance of Americans or autonomous weapon systems. Claude, the AI model used by the US military in classified situations, faces scrutiny over its potential implications.
As the deadline approached, Amodei stated that the company could not comply with the Pentagon’s demands in good conscience.
The Pentagon clarified that the disagreement was not centered on Anthropic’s “red lines” and that all AI usage by the military adhered to legal directives.
Elon Musk’s Grok recently gained approval for classified applications, while OpenAI and Google are also close to securing similar permissions.
OpenAI’s Sam Altman expressed alignment with Anthropic’s principles but hinted at potential cooperation with the Pentagon on the appropriate use of AI models.
The escalating conflict between Anthropic and the Pentagon intensified following Claude’s involvement in the arrest of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro.
During a meeting with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Anthropic denied allegations of complaining to Palantir about the use of its technology in the Maduro operation.
In November, reports surfaced about Anthropic’s affiliations with the Effective Altruism movement and Democratic donors, complicating its government collaborations.
