Trump Orders Federal Agencies to Stop Using Anthropic Products, Calling It 'Woke'

President Donald Trump has ordered every federal agency in the United States to stop using products from Anthropic, the AI company he labeled a "radical left, woke company" in a Truth Social post. The directive marks a dramatic escalation in the ongoing standoff between the Trump administration and Anthropic over the use of its AI technology by government agencies.

The Breaking Point in Pentagon-Anthropic Relations

The conflict centers on Anthropic's refusal to remove safety safeguards from its Claude AI models for military applications. The dispute intensified after discussions about using Claude during hypothetical nuclear missile attacks, with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei stating the company cannot "in good conscience" accede to the Department of Defense's requests to remove these protections.

The Pentagon had offered compromises, including written assurances that existing laws already prohibit mass surveillance of Americans, but Anthropic maintained its position. The company has spent weeks at odds with the Pentagon over the scope of how its Claude AI tools can be used, particularly regarding autonomous weapons and domestic surveillance.

Industry-Wide Implications

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has drawn similar "red lines" regarding military use of AI technology, telling staff that OpenAI shares Anthropic's stance on these issues. The controversy has sparked debate across the tech industry about the role of AI companies in military applications and the extent to which they should accommodate government requests.

Two coalitions of workers from Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI have publicly supported Anthropic's position, urging their companies to join Anthropic in refusing the Department of Defense's demands. Over 100 Google DeepMind and other AI employees have also signed letters urging executives to block military deals that could use their technology for mass surveillance or autonomous weapons.

Political and Ideological Dimensions

The Trump administration's actions appear to be motivated by more than just technical disagreements over AI safety. The characterization of Anthropic as "woke" reflects broader cultural and political tensions between the administration and companies perceived as taking progressive stances on technology ethics and safety.

This directive comes amid other significant tech industry developments, including Amazon's massive $50 billion investment in OpenAI and the ongoing legal battles between Elon Musk and OpenAI. The situation highlights the complex intersection of technology, politics, and national security in the age of artificial intelligence.

What Happens Next

Federal agencies are now tasked with identifying and removing Anthropic products from their operations, though the practical implications of this directive remain unclear. The move could accelerate efforts by the Pentagon to develop or acquire alternative AI technologies that don't come with the same ethical constraints.

The standoff raises fundamental questions about the future of public-private partnerships in AI development, particularly when it comes to sensitive military and intelligence applications. As AI technology becomes increasingly central to national security, the tension between ethical safeguards and government demands for unrestricted access is likely to intensify.

For now, Anthropic faces the prospect of losing significant government business while maintaining its principled stance on AI safety. The company's decision to prioritize ethical considerations over lucrative military contracts represents a high-stakes gamble that could reshape the landscape of AI development and government contracting in the years to come.

The broader tech industry will be watching closely to see whether other AI companies follow Anthropic's lead or whether the pressure to secure government contracts will ultimately override ethical concerns about AI safety and use.