Eric Trump expressed support for a federal investigation into a report from ABC News regarding his family's business dealings with defense contractor Anduril Industries. Senator Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, has called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to investigate the erroneous report published on ABC's website, which claimed that investments by Trump’s sons had resulted in billions in Pentagon contracts since his father's election. The report was deleted and later republished with corrections.
On social media, Eric Trump thanked Moreno for his support and criticized ABC News for the initial report, stating, "You can’t publish a bulls–t hit-piece, let it spread and go viral, then delete it 24 hours later, under the cover of darkness with no explanation or apology. Who approved it? Has the author been fired? @ABC owes us answers."
In a letter to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, Moreno demanded accountability and questioned whether ABC News violated its obligations as a broadcaster. He urged the Commission to open a formal investigation into what he described as a political hit job by the network.
The controversy arose from ABC News' original claim that 1789 Capital, where Trump Jr. is a partner, had secured a major stake in Anduril through a $2.5 billion investment. This figure was later clarified to represent Anduril’s broader fundraising round, with 1789 Capital's actual investment being approximately $50 million.
ABC News republished a revised article acknowledging errors in its reporting regarding investments, government contracts, and the timeline of events. The updated headline stated, "New shipyard announced amid earlier Democratic concerns about potential conflicts of interest," and the original reporter’s byline was replaced with “ABC News.” A source from 1789 Capital indicated that an ABC journalist defended the original story before it was deleted. Semafor reported that ABC editors initially supported the published story, contradicting the network's assertion that it was released prematurely. ABC News has not yet responded to requests for comment.