During an earnings call on Monday, Alex Karp, the chief executive officer of Palantir Technologies, characterized the company—widely regarded as a heavyweight in defense and data analytics—as the world’s first enterprise to define itself as entirely and deliberately “anti-woke.” His statement was not merely rhetorical bravado; it represented a deliberate alignment with a cultural and philosophical position that diverges sharply from the mainstream sentiment often associated with Silicon Valley’s more progressive ethos.
Karp expressed deep admiration for the employees who have chosen to work at Palantir, emphasizing their collective dedication to defending unrestricted free expression and championing what he called the essential principles of meritocracy and advanced, “lethal” technological capability. He elaborated that Palantir’s adherence to these ideals has been instrumental in its mission to deliver results of exceptional quality—comparable to those of the best venture-backed startups—to what he described as “ordinary Americans.” The company, known for developing sophisticated software solutions used by both large corporations and key U.S. government agencies, considers these core values fundamental to its identity and success.
Financially, Palantir reported remarkable outcomes for the fiscal period ending in September, boasting nearly $1.2 billion in revenue—an impressive 63% increase from the prior year. In an official statement released Monday, the company attributed this achievement to what it termed “accelerating and otherworldly growth.” A detailed breakdown of results revealed that U.S. commercial revenues had surged by 121%, climbing to $397 million, while revenues from U.S. government contracts rose by 52%, reaching $486 million. Karp, in his typical assertive manner, underscored the extraordinary nature of these numbers, proclaiming on the call that these were “arguably the best results that any software company has ever delivered,” and insisting that such a claim was not an exaggeration.
This declaration occurred against a broader backdrop of shifting cultural and political sentiments within the technology sector. Over the past year, Silicon Valley—long perceived as synonymous with progressive values—has increasingly displayed a willingness to embrace anti-woke rhetoric and even align itself publicly with former President Donald Trump. A number of influential industry leaders, including Sam Altman of OpenAI and Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, reportedly praised Trump during a White House dinner held earlier in the fall, signaling how ideological landscapes within technology are evolving. Similarly, in October, Marc Benioff, founder and chief executive officer of Salesforce, a competitor of Palantir, urged that the National Guard be deployed to San Francisco, a statement he later retracted after considerable backlash.
Karp, known for his unapologetically provocative style, referenced Palantir’s operational ties to both U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Israel, acknowledging candidly that these affiliations have generated significant controversy. “We power ICE,” he stated, adding, “We’ve supported Israel. I don’t know why these are controversial positions, but many people seem to view them as such.” His tone suggested both conviction and frustration at what he perceives as a cultural climate quick to condemn positions rooted in national security and geopolitical alliances.
During the same call, Karp also spoke about the internal culture he seeks to preserve within Palantir. He remarked that he strives to ensure the company remains as “tribal, cultish, and unique” as it was two decades ago, emphasizing that his hiring practices are meticulously designed to attract individuals who share the company’s distinctive values and rigorous mission ethos. Yet, this internal dynamic has not been without friction. The company’s head of communications, Lisa Gordon, who identifies as a Democrat, publicly described Palantir’s political pivot toward Trump as troubling in an interview at a summit organized by tech publication *The Information* in late October. According to reports by CNBC, videos of that conversation were later removed from *The Information*’s social media platforms, further fueling speculation about internal tensions and external sensitivities.
Karp, unaffected by criticism, adopted a more populist tone as the conversation turned toward domestic policy and social inequality. He called for heightened border security measures and urged a renewed national focus on what he described as “average poor Americans.” His rhetoric grew more impassioned as he drew an analogy to the nation’s uneven responses to crises, remarking that if a drug epidemic like fentanyl were killing 60,000 Yale graduates instead of 60,000 working-class citizens, the government would consider an extreme retaliatory response. He contended that Palantir positions itself firmly on the side of ordinary Americans who, in his view, are frequently marginalized while empathy and institutional support are disproportionately extended to the elite. Karp argued that open-border policies contribute directly to the economic disenfranchisement of lower-income Americans by depressing their wages.
Interestingly, despite his critiques of elite culture and progressive ideology, Karp supported former Vice President Kamala Harris’s 2024 presidential campaign—a fact that illustrates his nuanced political orientation and suggests a more complex worldview than a purely partisan narrative might imply. In his annual letter to shareholders, Karp explored these ideas further, calling for a national renaissance defined by a “return to a shared national experience” and a renewed sense of “common identity.” He argued that society has erred by casually declaring all cultures and value systems as equal without acknowledging that some serve as engines of progress and creativity, while others foster regression and social decay. Although he abstained from specifying which cultures he considered exemplary or detrimental, his point was clear: cultural relativism, in his eyes, has weakened collective purpose. Karp concluded by cautioning against the arrogance of believing that the world should or even could be remade entirely in the image of American civilization.
Taken together, Karp’s remarks and Palantir’s financial results paint a portrait of a company unafraid of controversy, committed to ideological distinctiveness, and confident in its trajectory of growth. They also underscore the growing interplay between political identity and corporate strategy in the modern technology sector—a dynamic that continues to redefine the boundaries between profit, patriotism, and principle.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/palantir-ceo-alex-karp-calls-company-anti-woke-revenue-surge-2025-11
