Palantir comms chief calls company’s political shift ‘concerning’

Palantir‘s head of global communications said Wednesday that the company’s political shift toward the Trump administration is “concerning.”

“I think it’s going to be challenging, as a lot of the company is moving pro-Trum-, you know, is moving in a certain direction,” communications chief Lisa Gordon said in an interview at The Information‘s Women in Tech, Media and Finance summit.

“It’s concerning,” she said, while noting she’s a Democrat and previously worked on Walter Mondale’s presidential campaign.

President Ronald Reagan defeated Mondale, who served as vice president under Jimmy Carter, in the 1984 presidential election.

“So until recently, we’re pretty much on both sides, and so it hasn’t been that challenging,” Gordon said about Republicans and Democrats. “I’m just starting to navigate that now, moving forward, where I feel like there’s been a shift.”

Palantir CEO Alex Karp, who has given money to the campaigns of former Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden, has been outspoken about his recent support for President Donald Trump.

Gordon said Karp’s “frustration with the Democrats” pushed him in a different direction politically.

Gordon told CNBC in an email that “Palantir welcomes diverse opinions.”

“The company has worked with four administrations and prides itself on supporting the nation no matter who’s in office,” she wrote.

Palantir, which is also a donor for the White House’s new ballroom that is under construction, just inked a contract with the U.S. Army worth up to $10 billion over the next decade.

The deal further cemented the company’s role in the U.S. government’s focus on cost efficiencies by using artificial intelligence tools.

Palantir also sponsored the president’s parade for the U.S. Army‘s 250th birthday in June.

Gordon’s comments this week show how internal dynamics within the company are working as it undergoes this political movement. Gordon has worked at Palantir since 2009.

“You don’t get fired for having a different position, but you will leave if you’re not aligned, ultimately, like if you don’t support Israel,” Gordon said, referring to Karp’s staunch support of Israel amid the conflict in Gaza.

Palantir has supplied tools to Israel during the war in Gaza. Israel launched the campaign after Hamas-led fighters stormed through southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and bringing 251 hostages back to Gaza.

As of this week, Gaza health authorities said 68,000 people were confirmed killed in the Israeli strikes and thousands more were missing.

Karp has said that the company has lost employees and expects to lose more over his public support for Israel.

“What we try to focus on are the missions, not the personalities so much and and staying true to the work,” said Gordon.