Trump Administration Faces Backlash Over Reported Palantir National Citizen Database

The Trump administration has sparked significant controversy by contracting Palantir Technologies, a data analytics firm co-founded by Trump supporter Peter Thiel, to compile a centralized database of personal information on American citizens. This move, reported by The New York Times and covered widely in the media, involves integrating Palantir's Foundry software into federal agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services, enabling the merging of sensitive data like tax records, Social Security information, medical claims, and bank details. The partnership has ignited backlash not only from Democrats and privacy advocates but also from many of President Trump's own loyal supporters, who view the initiative as a betrayal and liken it to authoritarian surveillance systems. Prominent pro-Trump voices on social media, including The Patriot Voice and far-right figure Nick Fuentes, denounced the database as a threat to civil liberties and an unacceptable expansion of government surveillance. The controversy highlights growing fears over privacy and the influence of technology companies in managing citizens' personal data. Despite the administration's intentions, the backlash reveals a rare rupture between Trump and key segments of his base.