Anthropic’s Claude tops U.S. App Store following Pentagon standoff

Anthropic’s Claude app, currently in conflict with the Pentagon, has climbed to No. 1 among free apps in the U.S. App Store, CNBC reports.

Claude pushed OpenAI’s ChatGPT down to second place. Anthropic says the number of free users has grown by more than 60% since January 2026.

The number of paid subscribers has more than doubled year over year, TechCrunch reports. As recently as late January, the app was not even in the top 100, but by February it had reached the top 20.

• The surge is being linked to the company’s standoff with the U.S. "Department of War".
• Recently, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued an ultimatum to Anthropic, demanding the company lift restrictions on its AI model by the evening of February 27.

Trump bans U.S. agencies from using Anthropic technology

U.S. President Donald Trump has barred all federal agencies from using artificial intelligence technologies developed by Anthropic.

Durov's CodeDaria Ivanova

• The Pentagon chief warned that if Anthropic refuses, the government could invoke the Defense Production Act of 1950.
• The law allows federal authorities to directly intervene in the distribution of private companies’ products.

Anthropic said it is prepared to adjust usage policies for military needs. However, the company continues to oppose the use of its technology for mass surveillance of U.S. citizens.