Palantir’s Growing Role in the Trump Administration
Palantir, a company known for its ‘spy tech,’ is becoming increasingly influential in the Trump administration. Despite not being a household name, Palantir has become one of the world’s most valuable companies, with a stock market valuation approaching $300 billion.
The company’s AI software is being used by various government agencies, including the Israel Defense Forces and the Defense Department. Palantir has recently received a $30 million contract to build a platform to track migrant movements in real time, and is reportedly working with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to create a master immigration database.
Critics, including prominent Silicon Valley investor Paul Graham, have accused Palantir of ‘building the infrastructure of the police state.’ Former Palantir employee Juan Sebastián Pinto has also spoken out against the company’s work with the Trump administration, citing concerns about the potential abuse of its sophisticated surveillance and AI tools.
Palantir’s involvement in government contracts has been on the rise since Trump took office, with the company’s stock surging more than 200%. The company’s CEO, Alex Karp, has expressed enthusiasm for the Trump administration’s priorities, stating that Palantir aims to ‘power the West to its obvious, innate superiority.’
