Alex Karp Said He’s a ‘Progressive.’ OK! Here’s Some Other Stuff He’s Said Recently
Palantir CEO Alex Karp repeatedly called himself a 'progressive' in a recent interview, despite his company's development of military technologies used in controversial operations.
When Palantir chief executive Alex Karp sat down with Politico this week, he reportedly used the word 'progressive' eight times to describe both his political philosophy and his company. 'I've been a Democrat my whole life,' Karp told Politico, which noted that he called the Democratic Party 'totally irresponsible' in October 2025. 'I know more about being a progressive than almost anybody on the planet, and I absolutely believe Palantir—all of our products are essentially progressive.'
War Technology Claims
This isn't the first time Karp has called himself a progressive. In 2018, he described himself as such and claimed to have voted for Hillary Clinton. Karp has also donated money to Democratic candidates, including $360,000 to a joint fundraising committee for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in 2023, and $1 million to MAGA, Inc. the next year.
Palantir has built technology that underpins much of the Trump administration's brutal arrest and deportation campaign, sold tools to the US military that can use generative AI to help plan and execute drone strikes, and partnered with the Israeli military to assist in its war on Gaza.
Antiwar Movement Claims
In his most recent quarterly letter to Palantir shareholders, Karp argued that Palantir employees are 'the pioneers of a genuine and viable antiwar movement.' Despite the US and Iran being engaged in direct warfare, Karp wrote that they are living through what he called the 'long peace.'
Our products are built to avoid war, meaning the adversary knows that they will have such pain inflicted upon them that in fact it's not worth going to war.
Profit Motive
During Palantir's earnings call on November 2, Karp said the company has both a 'moral imperative' and a 'mission reason' for dominating its market, which he described as supporting the war fighter. 'We are delighted that we can support the war fighter even more because we're making so much money,' Karp said.
Karp's recent comments could be seen through the lens of convenience. Democrats will have a majority in both chambers of Congress next year, and since about half of Palantir's revenue comes from government work, it's pragmatic to sow goodwill. Karp pointedly excludes anyone who has criticized Palantir, calling such attacks 'ridiculously stupid and malicious.'
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