Palantir CEO says it's pioneering an antiwar movement – while happily accepting defense dollars

What happened

Palantir's CEO, Alex Karp, said the company is a pioneer of an antiwar movement. He said this after the company reported strong third-quarter results. He also said Palantir has a "moral imperative" to be the top player in its industry. The article points out that Karp did not discuss Palantir's political donations or the wars the US has recently fought, and that he said nothing about them on the earnings call.

Key numbers

• Palantir's third-quarter revenue rose 96 percent from a year earlier, to $2.31 billion.
• The company's shares fell 8 percent after the results were announced.
• Karp gave $1 million in December 2024 to MAGA Inc., a super PAC (a political group that can raise and spend large sums) that supports Donald Trump.

Some background

Palantir sells data software to governments, the military, and intelligence agencies. Its work with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has drawn criticism, including from some US judges. Since Karp's donation, the US has launched a military operation in Venezuela and gone to war with Iran.

Why it matters

The story shows how a company that makes money from war can describe itself as a force for peace. Critics say this is a way to turn business into a moral cause and to brush off concerns. Readers can decide for themselves whether Palantir's claims about peace and civil rights match its actions and the money it makes.

What to watch

• Whether Palantir's defense and government contracts keep growing.
• Any new court rulings or public criticism about Palantir's work with ICE.
• How Karp and Palantir respond to questions about their political donations and the wars.