Anthropic's AI chatbot app, Claude, has surged to the top of the U.S. App Store's free downloads chart, climbing from 42nd place in just two months. This rise is attributed to a growing controversy involving Anthropic and the U.S. government over the use of its technology. President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have criticized Anthropic, urging the government to halt its use of the company's technology and restrict military contractors from partnering with Anthropic commercially. In response, Anthropic has stated it will not deploy its AI models for fully autonomous weapons or large-scale domestic surveillance, citing concerns over the safety of military personnel and civilians, as well as potential violations of fundamental rights. The company will continue to provide services to the Department of Defense for the next six months to allow for a transition period.