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Trump orders US Government to cut ties with Anthropic

https://abcnews.com/Politics/anthropic-latest-pentagon-contract-bar-ai-autonomous-weapons/story?id=130558898
127•SunshineTheCat•1h ago

Comments

epolanski•1h ago
> "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," Trump added.

The Al Capone executive.

No surprise most CEOs are either licking his butt or staying silent, there's clearly a climate of fear.

anonym29•1h ago
(1603ET): An hour before a 5PM ET deadline, President Donald Trump directed 'EVERY Federal Agency in the United States Government to IMMEDIATELY CEASE all use of Anthropic’s technology," posting on Truth Social that "We don't need it, we don't want it, and we will not do business with them again."
zmj•1h ago
This is the happy ending.
ortusdux•1h ago
I'm worried about who will rush in to fill the vacuum.
stdgy•1h ago
I'm sure Alex Karp and Palantir are already charging into the breach, promising to deliver things they don't have the capability to deliver! (Otherwise known as just another day for them)
simlevesque•1h ago
No, Trump added "I will use the full power of the presidency to make them comply".
skeledrew•11m ago
No end here. The administration can still go above and beyond in an attempt to completely wreck Anthropic.
surprisetalk•1h ago
From the official @WhiteHouse twitter:

https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/2027497719678255148

https://xcancel.com/WhiteHouse/status/2027497719678255148

ChrisArchitect•1h ago
[dupe] Earlier: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47185528
aaronharnly•1h ago
This is the Truth Social post, which the article quotes but doesn't quite convey the flavor of:

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/1161445529692...

> 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!

  PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP
ZeroGravitas•1h ago
I mentioned his insane threats to Netflix earlier and tried to Google an article that referenced it. None of them linked or even broadly quoted it.

There's been a concerted effort to hide the fact that the US President is posting insane shit every day for years.

cluckindan•1h ago
You really think it’s him tapping away those Troots?
harry8•55m ago
Coveffe
abraxas•1h ago
The sanewashing of that nutbar from every media outlet in the States has been equally as breathtaking as the rants themselves.
wrs•1h ago
It's just so great to have a president whose public statements sound like a 3-year-old having a tantrum. Every agency must immediately cease all use of Anthropic's technology, except the agencies that are using Anthropic's products?
Covzire•1h ago
Does anyone know (more precisely) what the military wanted to use Claude for and what Anthropic was resisting?
mingus88•1h ago
Their statement called out automatic weapons targeting and domestic surveillance as two lines they would not cross
Covzire•55m ago
But.. we already have automatic weapons targeting systems and the PATRIOT act, which enjoys bi-partisan support already providing basically limitless domestic surveillance.
goatlover•48m ago
Doesn't mean Anthropic wants their tech making it even worse.
Covzire•40m ago
Agreed, but the details released so far are pretty sparse on what exactly was being asked. If they're resisting general AI to help missiles find their target better, then I think it's pretty foolish of Anthropic to resist because that's happening come hell or high water. If it's about resisting mass surveileance without a warrant of American citizens, then I'd cheer Anthropic on for pulling out, but we just don't know apparently.
pseudalopex•28m ago
The Department of Defense demanded contracts which would allow any lawful use. Anthropic refused to allow mass domestic surveillance or fully autonomous weapons until fully autonomous weapons could be more reliable.[1]

[1] https://www.anthropic.com/news/statement-department-of-war

pseudalopex•46m ago
Anthropic's statement specified mass domestic surveillance. Not all domestic surveillance. And fully autonomous weapons with today's systems. Not automatic targeting. And not never.
tapvt•1h ago
Is this not a greater loss for the government than for Anthropic?
p-o•1h ago
The messaging is not normal, the intent is absolutely abhorrent. With every passing week, the rhetoric coming from him gets more violent: I'm worried.
garciasn•1h ago
Now you're worried? Come on. He is using the Bully Pulpit to try and pressure other companies to toeing the line. At least someone had the balls to tell them to get fucked instead of kowtowing.
mingus88•1h ago
He is also clearly in the throes of dementia, as his father was. It’s a common symptom of dementia patients to become rude and violent as their facilities slip away

If only we had a constitutional process for removing presidents from office as they become obviously unfit for the office…

cyanydeez•54m ago
yes, but this is his administration; full stop neogestapo. Hes surrounded and politically floated by white Christian nationalists. His dementia just lubricates the existing harm vectors.
garciasn•18m ago
I mean him being in the throes of dementia is certainly possible; but, more absolutely, he's a fucking asshole. The problem isn't just him, however; it's his entire administration, Congress, and the SCOTUS he stacked that further enable the insanity.
watwut•14m ago
He was rude and violent years ago. There is nothing new about those two. They made him win presidency twice.

He is more incoherent and demented.

GorbachevyChase•28m ago
Anthropic is getting what it deserves. I feel pretty comfortable assuming you’ve never served, but the idea that you could be in a life and death situation (that is your life and your death) and your equipment fails because otherwise it would violate an AI code of conduct document some sanctimonious dweeb made up is completely unacceptable. It’s a very simple question about guaranteed reliability. Anthropic is, in fact, a supply chain risk and not fit for tasks of serious consequence. Furthermore, a quick survey of the disturbing racial calculus all of these models perform for the “trolley problem“ should be a sign that there are no AI providers fit to make any moral judgments on any subject whatsoever. I think we would all be much better off with a product that just works and then regulate users. If Sam Altman is your moral compass, then you are in trouble.
demuis•1h ago
Would love nothing more than for sama to refuse government contracts in solidarity. Free enterprise isn’t free
et-al•1h ago
The same Sam Altman that brought us Worldcoin + The Orb?
sama2026•1h ago
OpenAI courts Trump and their executives donate to MAGA foundations directly.
pogue•43m ago
From Axios:

What to watch: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in a memo to staff on Thursday night that the company will uphold the same red lines as Anthropic on surveillance and autonomous weapons, but still hopes to strike a deal with the Pentagon.

https://www.axios.com/2026/02/27/anthropic-pentagon-supply-c...

NittLion78•55m ago
Idk who would even want them as a client. They'll change course on you every 4 years at minimum potentially in massive ways that might force you to change your product putting all your other users at risk - and they might just do that to you legislatively, anyway!
paozac•1h ago
This might actually make Anthropic very popular among those who do not support the current US presidency, a significant market share.
smalltorch•1h ago
Take notes other AI companies. This is a totally fine line to draw and it's not even that high bar.

Dont allow systems to be built with your AI that automate mass surveillance or automate kill decisions.

throwaw12•1h ago
I guess Sama is happy.

Also I wonder what's happening with democracy in the US, with this level of presidential control to mess up everything, is US moving towards dictatorship?

bestouff•1h ago
Are you seriously still asking this question ?
lioeters•1h ago
I'm starting to think this guy is kind of a jerk.
cue_the_strings•1h ago
Probably war.
cluckindan•1h ago
The puppet does what the puppeteer makes it do.
palmotea•1h ago
> Also I wonder what's happening with democracy in the US, with this level of presidential control to mess up everything, is US moving towards dictatorship?

I mean maybe, but not because the president can decide to cancel a contract with a vendor. That seems to be a pretty reasonable power for the president to have.

frogperson•1h ago
You cant be serious. We are well past democracy and deep into fascism. Ask yourself, how many of the 14 points do you recognize?

https://ratical.org/ratville/CAH/fasci14chars.html

throwaw12•1h ago
You might be right, I am getting worried more and more for upcoming 2039-2045 years
RonanSoleste•49m ago
Oh the US crossed that threshold the day he started he won the elections the second time. Most Americans seem to think new elections will solve it. But for germans it was a world war that brought back democracy. There were no elections anymore. That is also the most likely case for the US now.
maxwellsdeamons•48m ago
Not saying that you are wrong. But even before Trump the US ticked like 10/14.
adriand•1h ago
The US will survive this, despite being damaged, because Trump and his team are incompetent and he’s in a bubble and no one tells him what is actually going on. The GOP is going to get crushed in the midterms. From that standpoint, Anthropic may simply be playing the long game, and playing it well.
goatlover•53m ago
Really hope so. Only concern is what desperate measures the Trump admin will be willing to employ to stop the midterms from giving Democrats control of Congress (or at least the House).
baal80spam•1h ago
https://www.npr.org/2026/02/27/nx-s1-5729118/trump-anthropic...
nixass•1h ago
They just know the circus will end fairly soon. No point in undermining its own future for this clown show
mclean•1h ago
So, after all is done and dust has settled, Anthropic will be the only big'ish tech company that not sold it soul to devil.
cyanydeez•53m ago
optimistic. This just means they'll demand a higher price.
blitzar•1h ago
Is this as real as the Ai generated medical ship that is steaming towards Greenland as we speak?
senko•1h ago
Related:

* https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47185528

* https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47185892

* https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47186031

* https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47185682

* https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47185482

tayo42•1h ago
So the government is phasing them out, or the company needs to get their act together?

Rarely see a company tell the government no though.

xiphias2•1h ago
For anybody who thinks it's about Trump vs other administration: it's not, both AI surveillance of all people and using it for automatic fight was just bound to happen.

The only question is whether the safety of the models were really done well enough to protect the people and be a net positive force in the world.

I guess if they would be safely trained to do more good than bad (how Dario and SamA said), there wouldn't even be a need for the contract terms.

seanmcau•57m ago
It would/will be extremely irresponsible to put non-deterministic and fallible models in charge of weapons. We are not close to having solved the problem of ensuring AI pursues good outcomes
xiphias2•36m ago
I agree completely. Anybody who uses the models extensively know it can do something amazing for a prompt and something awful for another. But I also know that wars are unfortunately real and there are real enemies between countries and they don't want a limited model.
skeledrew•6m ago
How exactly does the "limitation" affect any war the US may be in with another country?
Animats•57m ago
Something interesting is going on around Trump's rants. Some White House staffers are directing lower-level staff to ignore them and focus on the economy. James Blair [2] seems to be leading this. Blair was in charge of political strategy for Trump's campaign, and he won, so he's probably not going to be fired.

There have been presidents in decline who were semi-captured by their staffs. Biden, Reagan, and Roosevelt all were. It may be that Trump gets trotted out now and then to deliver his standard speech (his speeches all have roughly the same content, regardless of subject or venue), but the work of the White House involves him less.

Watch to see which threats get followed up with action, and which ones don't.

[1] https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2026/02/trump-gop-repub...

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Blair_(political_advisor...

drivingmenuts•47m ago
That's a solid gold recommendation for Anthropic, far as I'm concerned.
thomassmith65•36m ago
Please, Anthropic, make 30 second commercials about this dispute!

Not a hard sell, but just "These are the two demands the government gave us, and here's why we did not agree to them"

It makes the company so attractive to most of the public - not just those who dislike Trump, but also those don't trust government.

giancarlostoro•13m ago
I wouldnt want an AI model to hold my military hostage. DOD should have strong requirements when making contracts with AI companies, including having the models be on their own infrastructure, fully locked down with a master prompt they can see and update.

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