During Palantir’s latest earnings call on Monday, CEO Alex Karp returned to one of his favorite topics—his critics. Known for his fiery rhetoric and unapologetic confidence, Karp took a victory lap after Palantir reported stronger-than-expected third-quarter results.

“Please turn on the conventional television and see how unhappy those that didn’t invest in us are,” Karp declared with his trademark bravado. “Enjoy, get some popcorn—they’re crying. We are every day making this company better, and we’re doing it for this nation, for allied countries.”

The company’s performance certainly backs up his confidence. Palantir’s stock has surged more than 25 times in the past three years, pushing its market value above $490 billion. Despite this massive growth and an impressive earnings beat, the stock saw a slight dip in after-hours trading, reflecting perhaps investors’ cautious optimism. The company’s forward price-to-earnings ratio now stands near 280, a reflection of both its growth potential and market hype.

Karp, who co-founded Palantir in 2003, framed his company’s mission as deeply tied to national interests. “We’re going to go very, very deep on our rightness,” he said, emphasizing that Palantir’s work is “exceedingly good for America.”

Over the years, Karp has cultivated a reputation as one of Silicon Valley’s most unconventional CEOs. His quarterly shareholder letters read more like philosophical essays than corporate communications, often referencing figures ranging from ancient thinkers to modern political leaders. His commentaries have quoted philosophers, the New Testament, and even former U.S. President Richard Nixon.

In his most recent letter, Karp turned to Irish poet William Butler Yeats to underscore his belief in a shared “national experience.” He warned that rejecting a “common culture” could weaken society’s foundations, writing, “It’s that pursuit of something greater, and rejection of a vacant and neutered and hollow pluralism, that will help ensure our continued strength and survival.”

True to form, Karp didn’t shy away from hot-button issues during the earnings call. He shifted from discussing artificial intelligence to the growing fentanyl crisis in the United States, acknowledging that the topic was “slightly political.”

“If fentanyl were killing 60,000 Yale graduates instead of 60,000 working-class people, we would be dropping a nuclear bomb on whoever was sending it from South America,” Karp said bluntly, illustrating his frustration over what he views as uneven national priorities.

Karp also addressed Palantir’s controversial contracts with U.S. government agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Israeli military. Earlier this year, Palantir secured a $30 million contract to develop ImmigrationOS for ICE, a system designed to improve data management related to immigration enforcement and deportation efforts.

Critics have long questioned Palantir’s involvement with such projects, particularly those tied to law enforcement and defense. But Karp has consistently defended the company’s partnerships, positioning them as vital to national security. During a 2023 appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, he issued a blunt message to those uncomfortable with Palantir’s work: “You may not agree with that and, bless you, don’t work here.”

Today, more than half of Palantir’s U.S. revenue comes from government contracts. Following the Hamas attack on October 7, Palantir extended its technology support to Israel, reinforcing its pro-Israel stance. The company even purchased a full-page ad in The New York Times declaring its solidarity with Israel and held its first-ever board meeting in Tel Aviv shortly afterward.

Karp has acknowledged that his position has not been without internal costs. “We have lost employees due to our stance on Israel,” he admitted, adding that he expects more to leave. Still, he remains resolute. “We’re on the front line of all adversaries, including vis-à-vis China, we’re on ICE, and we’ve supported Israel,” he said. “I don’t know why this is all controversial, but many people find that controversial.”

Karp’s bold statements and refusal to cater to political correctness have made him a polarizing figure in the tech industry. Yet his leadership has propelled Palantir into the ranks of the world’s most valuable technology companies. His vision for the firm goes beyond profit—it’s wrapped in ideology, patriotism, and a belief that technology can and should serve the nation’s strategic interests.

For Karp, Palantir isn’t just a business—it’s a mission. And whether loved or loathed, his unfiltered convictions continue to shape both the company’s identity and its place in the global technology and defense landscape.