Even Donald Trump Jr's investments in Pentagon drones are crashing

Описание: The Pentagon is desperate to catch up to China and Russia, and has announced ambitious plans to "unleash US drone dominance."

But the Trump Administration's Executive Orders to advance drone manufacturing in the United States ironically repealed previous restrictions on Chinese components in US military drones.

The removal of those restrictions were a boon to drone companies that source parts from China. That includes Unusual Machines, a company with Donald Trump, Jr. as a key investor and board member.

The President's son has other investments in drone companies, who have also been awarded large Pentagon contracts. Anduril now carries a private valuation of over $30 billion.

But the performance of the drones themselves is poor, in testing with the US military, and under battlefield conditions in Ukraine. The US Navy and Air Force accuse the companies of "misguiding" them, and operators in Ukraine refuse to deploy US drones at all, even though they're free.

Closing scene, Donghu Park, Taizhou

Resources and links:

Pentagon’s growing list of ‘made in America’ drones has a loophole for certain parts made in China
https://defensescoop.com/2025/11/20/d...

The Pentagon wants to build millions of drones without Chinese parts. It's off to a bad start.
   • The Pentagon wants to build millions of dr...  

Hegseth To 'Unleash' U.S. Drone Dominance. These Stocks Surge.
https://www.investors.com/news/drones...

‘We Do Fail … a Lot’: Defense Startup Anduril Hits Setbacks With Weapons Tech
https://www.wsj.com/wsjplus/dashboard...

Forbes, Donald Trump Jr.’s Expanding Business: After Joining 2nd New Board, U.S. Contracts Followed
https://www.forbes.com/sites/zachever...

IBD, Trump Jr.-Linked Firm Rallies On Pentagon Wins, Unmanned Carrier Efforts
https://www.investors.com/news/unusua...

Rheinmetall, Anduril Team Up to Jointly Produce Defense Systems for Europe
https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/rhei...

Ukraine, Israel buying Chinese civilian drones for combat use; shun US military-grade drones
   • Ukraine, Israel buying Chinese civilian dr...  

The Pentagon wants to build millions of drones without Chinese parts. It's off to a bad start.
   • The Pentagon wants to build millions of dr...  

Reuters Exclusive: US defense firm Anduril faces setbacks from drone crashes
https://www.reuters.com/business/aero...

Ukraine, Israel buying Chinese civilian drones for combat use; shun US military-grade drones.
   • Ukraine, Israel buying Chinese civilian dr...