President Trump ordered all federal agencies to immediately stop using Anthropic's AI after negotiations with the Department of Defense collapsed over requests to loosen safety guardrails for military use of the Claude system. Anthropic's CEO Dario Amodei defended the company's restrictions, citing risks to democratic values, while Trump criticized the firm on Truth Social. The roundup also covers rising tensions over Iran and Cuba, Clinton depositions tied to Jeffrey Epstein, Pakistan‑Afghanistan strikes, domestic legal actions, and NASA's revisions to Artemis III.
Trump Orders Federal Agencies To Halt Use Of Anthropic AI After Pentagon Dispute Over Safety Guardrails
‘US defense officials have for weeks been pushing for unfettered access to Anthropic’s Claude AI system’s capabilities.’Photograph: Alexander Drago/Reuters(Photograph: Alexander Drago/Reuters)
President Donald Trump said on Friday he will direct all federal agencies to "IMMEDIATELY CEASE" using artificial intelligence technology from Anthropic after talks between the company and the Department of Defense over loosening safety guardrails fell apart.
The Pentagon had sought broader access to capabilities in Anthropic's Claude system, arguing certain features could support national defense. Anthropic resisted, saying it will not permit uses that enable mass surveillance or autonomous lethal systems without human control.
Dario Amodei, Anthropic CEO: "Anthropic understands that the Department of War, not private companies, makes military decisions. We have never raised objections to particular military operations... However, in a narrow set of cases, we believe AI can undermine, rather than defend, democratic values."
Donald Trump (Truth Social): "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."
The public dispute began when negotiations opened earlier this week and collapsed as both sides failed to reach agreement on acceptable safety constraints. The development raises immediate questions about government procurement of advanced AI tools and how private ethics policies will interact with national security needs.
Other Key Headlines
Iran Tensions: Debate has intensified in Washington over a possible US intervention in Iran, described by some analysts as the most consequential US military action since the Iraq war. Senior advisers are publicly defending the case amid internal contradictions.
Cuba: Trump suggested a potential "friendly takeover" of Cuba as relations deteriorate following accusations of Cuban involvement in the reported January abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Diplomacy: A memo reported by The Guardian says Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged ambassadors in the Middle East to avoid public comments that could inflame tensions or undermine US strategy toward Iran.
Clinton Depositions: Former President Bill Clinton gave a deposition to a congressional committee investigating ties to Jeffrey Epstein, one day after Hillary Clinton testified and criticized the hearings as partisan.
Domestic and International News: The report also highlights growing restrictions on gender-affirming care, renewed scrutiny of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick over past ties to Jeffrey Epstein, Pakistani strikes in Afghanistan including Kabul, additional arrests tied to a Minnesota church protest, the LAUSD superintendent placed on administrative leave after an FBI search, a veteran CBS producer's departure and claims of bias, and NASA's major changes to the delayed Artemis III lunar plan.
This roundup gathers developments across national security, domestic politics and global affairs to give a concise view of the stories shaping the moment.
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