From AP News: President Donald Trump said Friday he was ordering all federal agencies to phase out the use of Anthropic technology after the company’s unusually public dispute with the Pentagon over artificial intelligence safety.
Trump’s comments came just over an hour before the Pentagon’s deadline for Anthropic to allow unrestricted military use of its AI technology or face consequences — and nearly 24 hours after CEO Dario Amodei said his company “cannot in good conscience accede” to the Defense Department’s demands.
Trump said most agencies must immediately cease using Anthropic technology, but gave the Pentagon a 6-month period to phase out the technology that is already embedded in military platforms.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL NEVER ALLOW A RADICAL LEFT, WOKE COMPANY TO DICTATE HOW OUR GREAT MILITARY FIGHTS AND WINS WARS! That decision belongs to YOUR COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, and the tremendous leaders I appoint to run our Military.
“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.
“Therefore, I am directing EVERY Federal Agency in the United States Government to IMMEDIATELY CEASE all use of Anthropic’s technology. We don’t need it, we don’t want it, and will not do business with them again!
“There will be a Six Month phase out period for Agencies like the Department of War who are using Anthropic’s products, at various levels. Anthropic better get their act together, and be helpful during this phase out period, or I will use the Full Power of the Presidency to make them comply, with major civil and criminal consequences to follow.
“WE will decide the fate of our Country — NOT some out-of-control, Radical Left AI company run by people who have no idea what the real World is all about. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
A defense contract dispute centered on AI’s role in national security and concerns about its use in high-stakes situations involving lethal force, sensitive information, or government surveillance.
Anthropic sought assurances from the Pentagon that Claude wouldn’t be used for mass surveillance or autonomous weapons. However, it said in a Thursday statement that new contract language “framed as a compromise was paired with legalese that would allow those safeguards to be disregarded at will.”
A day later, negotiations appear to be over.
Trump’s decision is likely to benefit Elon Musk’s competing chatbot, Grok.
President Trump said he was directing every federal agency to immediately cease all use of Anthropic’s technology, adding there would be a six-month phase out for agencies like the Defense Department who use the company’s products https://t.co/o3GHxtlDfx pic.twitter.com/lsHQrdFSQM
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 27, 2026
Read more at AP News
The Dennis Michael Lynch Podcast archive is available below, with the most recent on top. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the show by downloading The DML News App or go to Apple Podcasts.
