ABC News Deletes Report on Trump Sons' $6 Billion Pentagon Contracts

ABC News abruptly removed a report scrutinizing business interests linked to Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump less than a day after publication, offering no public correction or explanation.

The Wednesday report claimed companies backed by President Donald Trump’s sons had secured more than $6 billion in active or promised government contracts after receiving investments connected to them. By Thursday morning, the original ABC News page was returning a 404 error. The deletion came after Alexa Henning, a spokesperson for venture capital firm 1789 Capital, publicly challenged several of the report’s central claims on X. Henning stated that 1789 Capital does not have a major stake in Anduril and that it is false to say Vulcan, Firehawk, and PsiQuantum are backed by Don Jr and Eric Trump.

She accused the reporter of conflating the total size of fundraising rounds with money invested specifically by 1789 Capital, where Trump Jr. is a partner. Henning also argued the article failed to distinguish between companies receiving government work before and after Trump returned to office, noting many of these companies have gotten government contracts during Biden AND Trump.

Donald Trump Jr. himself criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom for sharing the story, writing, "ABC deleted this article in less than 24 hours because it’s false." The ABC analysis had documented that many investments into defense firms came through 1789 Capital, founded by pro-Trump donors in 2023, which brought Trump Jr. in as a partner in 2024.

The report cited a recent multibillion-dollar funding agreement with AI defense firm Anduril Industries, more than a year after 1789 Capital claimed a $2.5 billion stake in the company. Other examples included Florida-based drone parts manufacturer Unusual Machines securing a deal for US Army motors last year, months after Trump Jr. was named an adviser.

Drone company Powerus, listing both Trump sons as investors, won a US Air Force purchase order earlier this year. Neither Unusual Machines nor Powerus had received government contracts prior to investments from the Trump brothers.