Defense companies and startups backed by the investment portfolios of Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump have secured more than $6 billion in active or promised government contracts since the brothers made their investments. The latest agreement involves a $6.6 billion investment with AI defense company Anduril Industries, which includes a Navy commitment of $2.9 billion to establish a manufacturing facility in Baltimore County, Maryland, for Virginia-class submarine components. Venture capital firm 1789 Capital, which lists Donald Trump Jr. as a partner, acquired a major stake in Anduril through a $2.5 billion investment in June 2025. Following that funding, Anduril has collected roughly $1.8 billion across 135 government agreements. Additional firms backed by the Trump brothers have similarly experienced a surge in public sector work. Unusual Machines, a Florida-based drone manufacturer where Donald Trump Jr. serves as an adviser, secured a Department of Defense contract in October 2025 shortly after his appointment. Meanwhile, drone company Powerus won its first Air Force purchase order a month after the brothers were listed as notable investors, followed by an award of up to $90 million in July for unmanned aircraft systems. The investments span multiple sectors, including raw materials, quantum computing, and robotics. Rare-earth mining company Vulcan Elements received a $620 million loan from the Office of Strategic Capital in August 2025 following a 1789 Capital investment. Firehawk Aerospace secured millions in additional defense contracts after a $60 million investment, and PsiQuantum expanded its Department of Defense contracts following a $1 billion revenue-generation effort by 1789 Capital. In the automation sector, Eric Trump joined humanoid robot startup Foundation Future Industries as chief strategy adviser, highlighting the company’s first $24 million contract in April. Furthermore, Hadrian secured a $39.2 million agreement with the Army and a $900 million Navy deal after receiving a $391 million investment from 1789 Capital in early 2026. Congressional Oversight Democrats have urged the Pentagon’s inspector general to investigate the procurement approvals, questioning whether the deals present conflicts of interest. A spokesperson for the Trump brothers denied any wrongdoing, stating that the siblings are experienced business leaders whose investment decisions rely entirely on independent judgment rather than an intent to influence government processes.
Source: abcnews.com
