ChatGPT uninstalls after Pentagon deal news surged sharply in the U.S., according to fresh market intelligence data, signaling a swift consumer reaction to OpenAI’s agreement with the Department of Defense.

Sensor Tower reported that U.S. app uninstalls of ChatGPT’s mobile app jumped 295% day-over-day on Saturday, February 28. By comparison, the app’s typical uninstall rate over the past 30 days has averaged just 9% day-over-day.

The spike followed news that OpenAI had struck a deal with the Department of Defense, which has been rebranded under the Trump administration as the Department of War.

ChatGPT Uninstalls After Pentagon Deal Coincide With Ratings Drop

Beyond uninstalls, app ratings also shifted rapidly. According to Sensor Tower, ChatGPT 1-star reviews surge reached 775% on Saturday, followed by another 100% day-over-day increase on Sunday. During the same period, five-star reviews fell by 50%.

Downloads were also affected. Sensor Tower said U.S. downloads of ChatGPT dropped 13% day-over-day on Saturday after the DoD deal became public. On Sunday, downloads declined an additional 5% day-over-day. Just one day earlier, before the partnership announcement, the app had posted 14% day-over-day growth in downloads.

The data suggests that a segment of users responded immediately to the news by uninstalling the app and expressing dissatisfaction through ratings.

Claude Downloads Surpass ChatGPT App Store Rankings

At the same time, OpenAI’s competitor Anthropic appeared to benefit. Sensor Tower reported that U.S. downloads for Claude rose 37% day-over-day on Friday, February 27, and 51% on Saturday, February 28, after the company said it would not partner with the U.S. defense department.

Anthropic cited concerns about potential uses of AI for surveillance of Americans and fully autonomous weaponry, stating that it could not agree to the deal terms.

Appfigures data reinforced the trend, noting that Claude downloads surpassed ChatGPT App Store daily U.S. totals for the first time on Saturday. Appfigures estimated Claude’s U.S. downloads jumped 88% day-over-day that day.

Claude’s momentum was also visible in the rankings. The app reached No. 1 on the U.S. App Store on Saturday, March 1, climbing more than 20 positions compared to February 22, 2026. Appfigures further reported that Claude is currently the No. 1 free iPhone app in six countries outside the U.S., including Belgium, Canada, Germany, Luxembourg, Norway and Switzerland.

A third data provider, Similarweb, said Claude’s U.S. downloads over the past week were about 20 times higher than in January. However, the firm cautioned that the spike could stem from factors beyond political developments.

The abrupt shifts in uninstall rates, ratings and download rankings underscore how quickly consumer sentiment can move in response to high-profile policy decisions. As the data around ChatGPT uninstalls after Pentagon deal continues to circulate, the competitive landscape among AI chatbot apps appears to be evolving in real time.