Katy Perry Backs Anthropic as AI Company Defies Pentagon Demands

In a surprising turn of events, pop star Katy Perry has publicly voiced her support for Anthropic, an artificial intelligence (AI) company currently embroiled in a dispute with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Perry’s gesture of support comes as Anthropic refuses to grant the Pentagon unrestricted access to its AI model, Claude, despite facing potential loss of a $200 million government contract.

Perry’s Public Endorsement

Early Saturday morning, February 29, 2026, Perry shared a screenshot on X (formerly Twitter) of an annual Claude Pro subscription, costing $214.99, with a heart drawn around the billing options. Her caption simply read “done.” The post quickly gained traction, amassing 2.8 million views and 21,000 likes as of Saturday morning, signaling a wave of support for Anthropic. Business Insider reported on the singer’s post.

The Standoff with the Pentagon

The conflict between Anthropic and the DoD escalated this week when Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth demanded that Anthropic provide full, unrestricted access to Claude by 5:01 p.m. On Friday, February 27, 2026, or risk losing its government contract. Anthropic refused, citing concerns about the potential misuse of its technology for mass surveillance of U.S. Citizens and the development of fully autonomous weapons systems. The Pentagon responded by labeling Anthropic a supply chain risk and announcing plans to phase out its military contracts.

President Donald Trump weighed in on the matter via his Truth Social account, stating, “We don’t need it, we don’t seek it, and will not do business with them again.” The Wall Street Journal detailed the escalating tensions.

Wider Support for Anthropic

Perry’s endorsement is part of a broader trend of support for Anthropic, with figures from Silicon Valley and Hollywood rallying behind the company’s stance. The Times of India reported that venture capitalist Vinod Khosla likewise publicly backed Anthropic’s position.

Anthropic’s Position and Future Outlook

Anthropic, founded in 2021 by former OpenAI employees including Dario and Daniela Amodei, operates as a public benefit corporation committed to developing safe and responsible AI. The company’s Claude model has gained significant traction, jumping to second place in Apple’s App Store behind OpenAI’s ChatGPT, following successful Super Bowl advertisements. As of February 2026, Anthropic is valued at an estimated $380 billion and employs 2,500 people. According to Wikipedia, Anthropic generated $14 billion in revenue in 2025.

Anthropic plans to challenge the DoD’s supply chain risk designation in court. OpenAI, a competitor, has reached a deal with the Department of Defense to utilize its AI models, following a period of navigating the complexities of working with the military without compromising its principles.