What happens when a tech company draws a line in the sand?
US President Donald Trump just made it clear: Anthropic, the AI developer behind Claude, is out.
“We don’t need it, we don’t want it, and will not do business with them again!” he declared on Truth Social.
He directed every federal agency to phase out the company’s tools over six months.
The clash stems from Anthropic refusing Pentagon demands to give unrestricted access to its AI, citing concerns over “mass surveillance” and fully autonomous weapons.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth labeled Anthropic a “supply chain risk”—a first for any US company.
He warned of potential consequences if it didn’t comply.
AI Regulation Standoff
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei stood firm, saying the designation is “legally unsound” and a dangerous precedent.
“No amount of intimidation or punishment… will change our position,” the company added.
OpenAI boss Sam Altman chimed in, supporting Anthropic’s red lines against unlawful uses.
His own company has reached an agreement with the Pentagon for classified cloud deployments.
This showdown isn’t just about one AI firm. It raises a bigger question: How far should government influence go in shaping how private AI is used?
In this standoff between national security and ethical safeguards, one thing is clear.
Anthropic is betting its principles are worth more than the Pentagon’s $200 million contract.
