What began as a policy discussion about the risks of AI in warfare has escalated into a high-stakes standoff involving the Trump administration, the Pentagon and AI firm Anthropic.

The Pentagon clash with Anthropic and Friday's severe response from Trump and Defense Secretary Hegseth highlights a growing war over who controls military AI.

Defense chief Pete Hegseth has threatened to force the company to lift guardrails against greater military use of AI.

A very public contract dispute exposes the ethical debate over how the U.S. military should use AI going forward. Anthropic vs. the Pentagon and what it means for U.S. citizens.

"The Leftwing nut jobs at Anthropic have made a DISASTROUS MISTAKE trying to STRONG-ARM the Department of War," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

Nearly two hours after President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he was banning Anthropic products from the federal government, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth took it one step further and announced that he was now designating the AI company as a “supply-chain risk,” which Anthropic says it is willing to challenge in court.

Critics are worried OpenAI's technology will be used for mass surveillance and fully autonomous military strikes.

Altman admitted in an “Ask Me Anything” session on social media platform X on Saturday night that its deal with the Pentagon “was definitely rushed.”