Trump Calls for End to Federal Use of Anthropic AI
President Donald Trump announced on Friday his intention to order all federal agencies to stop using Anthropic AI immediately.
In a lengthy post on Truth Social, he expressed, “America will never let radical left-wing companies dictate how our military operates!” He insisted that such decisions should rest solely with the commander-in-chief and the leaders he will appoint.
Trump claimed that “the left-wing individuals at Anthropic made a huge mistake” by attempting to influence the Department of the Army to adhere to the Code of Service rather than the Constitution. He accused them of jeopardizing American lives and national security.
He stated that he would instruct federal agencies, including the Department of the Army, to discontinue the use of Anthropic technologies with a phase-out period of six months.
“Anthropic better get their act together during this transition, or I will leverage presidential power to address this and potentially impose severe consequences,” he warned.
He added, “We determine our country’s fate—not a radical AI company disconnected from reality.”
This announcement followed Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei’s refusal earlier this week of a request from the Army to utilize their AI for lawful purposes, citing concerns over potential misuse for mass surveillance or autonomous weapons.
Controversy Surrounding AI Use
The Army has made it clear that it seeks partnerships only with AI companies that agree to allow “all lawful uses.” They threatened to label Anthropic as a ‘supply chain risk’ if the company did not meet these demands, which could lead to the invocation of the Defense Production Act.
Amodei emphasized that threats from the Army wouldn’t alter their stance, stating that complying with such demands wasn’t a viable option.
Sean Parnell, an assistant to the Army Secretary, reiterated the Army’s position: “We have no interest in conducting illegal surveillance or enabling autonomous weapons without human oversight.” He described the request for Anthropic’s technology as “a straightforward, reasonable request” aimed at protecting military operations.
Parnell asserted they would not allow any external company to dictate how operational decisions are made, giving Anthropic a deadline to respond or risk losing their contract.
Emil Michael, the Undersecretary of the Army for Research and Technology, accused Amodei of dishonesty, suggesting that he seeks undue control over military operations. He claimed the Department of War would adhere to the law but would not yield to external commercial pressures.
Amodei expressed hope that the Department of Defense would reconsider their decision, highlighting the significant advantages Anthropic’s technology offers. He reiterated their readiness to support U.S. national security while facilitating a smooth transition should operations with Anthropic cease.
