Eric Trump has endorsed calls for a probe by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) into ABC News after it published a story about the Trump family’s business engagements with defense contractor Anduril Industries. The original article wrongly claimed the Trump sons’ investments had yielded billions in Pentagon contracts since the election.
Senator Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, urged the FCC to investigate the events leading to this inaccurate report. The story was initially removed without clarification, then republished with corrections. Eric Trump expressed enthusiasm for the investigation on social media platform X, criticizing ABC News for its handling of the incident.
“You can’t publish a hit-piece, let it spread and then delete it under the cover of darkness with no explanation or apology. ABC owes us answers,” Eric Trump commented.
Moreno addressed a letter to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, seeking accountability for the incorrect report and questioning whether ABC News violated its broadcast obligations. He suggested a formal investigation should identify who approved the publication and whether the network sought to gain from the false narrative.
The controversy revolves around ABC News’ false assertion that 1789 Capital, where Donald Trump Jr. is a partner, played a significant role in a $2.5 billion investment in Anduril. In reality, 1789 Capital’s involvement was approximately $50 million, a detail misreported in the original article, misrepresenting Anduril’s financial activities.
Following intensified scrutiny, ABC News revised and reposted the article, acknowledging mistakes concerning investments and government contracts. The updated piece highlighted that Trump Jr. does not participate in the firm’s investment decisions. The revision also featured a new headline and replacement of the original author’s byline with “ABC News.”
A spokesperson for 1789 informed Fox News Digital about a journalist defending the report before its removal. Emails reviewed by Semafor indicated that ABC News editors initially stood by the story, contradicting later claims that it was prematurely published.
As of now, ABC News has not provided any immediate comments on the investigation demands.
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