Anthropic CEO issues apology over leaked memo critical of Trump – Axios

Anthropic CEO issues apology over leaked memo critical of Trump – Axios

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has issued an apology following the leak of an internal memo critical of President Donald Trump and the Department of War. The memo, obtained by The Information, stated that the administration’s hostility toward Anthropic stemmed from the company’s refusal to donate to Trump’s campaigns or offer "dictator-style praise". Amodei also criticized OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman for allegedly aligning with Trump's agenda, contrasting Anthropic’s stance on AI regulation and ethical boundaries.

The controversy escalated after the Pentagon ordered federal agencies to cease using Anthropic’s software, labeling the company a "supply chain risk". This decision followed tensions over Anthropic’s AI chatbot, Claude, which was reportedly used during military operations in Venezuela and Iran. Despite the ban, the Pentagon continues to rely on Claude for critical functions, creating operational challenges.

Amodei’s memo highlighted Anthropic’s commitment to rejecting mass surveillance and "safety theater" in AI development. However, the White House argued that the company’s policies compromised national security, with one official stating concerns about "secretly carrying out Dario's agenda" in a classified setting.

The dispute has drawn broader industry scrutiny. A coalition of Big Tech firms, including Nvidia and Amazon, expressed concerns that the supply chain risk designation could limit government access to advanced AI tools. Meanwhile, talks between Anthropic and the Pentagon have resumed, though outcomes remain uncertain. Investors are monitoring how the feud impacts Anthropic's market position and the Pentagon’s reliance on competing AI providers like OpenAI.