Anthropic CEO apologizes for 'tone' in leaked memo criticizing Trump administration

Dario Amodei says the message does not reflect his 'careful or considered views' on the Pentagon's decision to designate the AI firm as a supply chain risk.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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Dario Amodei, the CEO of AI company Anthropic, has apologized for the 'tone' of a leaked internal message that criticized the Trump administration's move to designate Anthropic as a supply chain risk. Amodei said the message was written six days ago and does not reflect his 'careful or considered views'. He added that Anthropic's 'most important priority' is ensuring the military has access to its tools, despite the Pentagon's decision.

Why it matters

The Pentagon's designation of Anthropic as a supply chain risk effectively bars companies with defense contracts from doing business with the AI firm. This comes after a standoff between Anthropic and the Pentagon over the use of the company's Claude models, with Anthropic refusing to allow its technology to be used for mass domestic surveillance or fully autonomous weapons.

The details

In the leaked memo, Amodei wrote that the Trump administration opposed Anthropic because it hadn't donated to the president or offered the kind of 'dictator-style' praise he said competitors had. Amodei has since apologized for the message, saying it was not a 'formal memo' and that he posts things in Slack frequently without a 'considered or refined version' of his thinking. Anthropic has said it intends to challenge the Pentagon's decision in court.

  • On March 6, 2026, the Pentagon notified Anthropic that the company and its products are deemed a supply chain risk, effective immediately.
  • On March 9, 2026, Amodei published a statement on Anthropic's website apologizing for the 'tone' of the leaked internal message.

The players

Dario Amodei

The CEO of Anthropic, an AI company that has been designated a supply chain risk by the Pentagon.

Pete Hegseth

The Defense Secretary who has said the Pentagon's designation of Anthropic means companies holding defense contracts are effectively barred from doing business with the AI firm.

Emil Michael

The undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, who said the Department of War is not in any negotiation with Anthropic.

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What they’re saying

“It was a difficult day for the company, and I apologize for the tone of the post. It does not reflect my careful or considered views. It was also written six days ago, and is an out-of-date assessment of the current situation.”

— Dario Amodei, CEO, Anthropic (Anthropic's website)

“The Department of War is not in any negotiation with the AI startup.”

— Emil Michael, Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (X)

What’s next

Anthropic has said it intends to challenge the Pentagon's decision to designate the company as a supply chain risk in court.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between the tech industry and the government over the use of advanced technologies, particularly in the defense and national security sectors. It also underscores the importance of clear communication and diplomacy in navigating these complex issues.