No not that Drone War! With all of the corruption happening in the United States right now, this one somehow stands out and yet is barely covered. In this past winter the Trump admin banned import of all foreign drones which at the time confused people. It starts to make sense when you realize that Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump Jr have recently invested in a domestic drone company.
Well that takes us to today. In this morning’s Deal Book newsletter from the New York Times I see this blurb.
The Trump administration is reportedly preparing to fund U.S. drone companies. Shares in Unusual Machines, a drone start-up in which Donald Trump Jr. is an investor and advisory board member, are soaring in premarket trading after The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed sources, reported on the potential investments. (The Times hasn’t independently confirmed the report.) The deals, aimed at bolstering domestic production, are still in the negotiation stage — equity stakes are a possibility — as the Pentagon vets the companies, The Journal adds.
Well turns out it was not enough that the Trump admin cleared the market of competition, now the US government is just going to hand money right to their company!
That sent me wanting to read more, and of course just today Pro Publica is on the story, so go and read it!
The White House Intervened to Get a $620 Million Deal for a Company Tied to Donald Trump Jr.