Eric Trump criticized ABC News for a misleading report about his family’s business dealings and backed Senator Bernie Moreno's call for an FCC investigation into the incident. The original article on ABC's website incorrectly stated that companies connected to Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. had won billions in Pentagon contracts, which was later corrected after being initially deleted without explanation. Moreno specifically challenged the accuracy of the report regarding investments tied to Anduril Industries and argued that the network misrepresented facts. ABC News revised its story, acknowledging errors about investments and government contracts.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-13,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-OH, urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on October 12, 2026, to launch an investigation into ABC News for allegedly publishing false information regarding investments tied to Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump with defense contractor Anduril Industries. Moreno claimed ABC’s report damaged a significant investment in his home state by misrepresenting Anduril's financing activities. The network initially deleted the story before republishing it with substantial revisions, raising questions about the accuracy of the original claims. Eric Trump backed Moreno's call for an FCC probe and criticized ABC for publishing what he deemed a “bulls–t hit piece” without proper explanation or apology. Both Moreno and Eric Trump questioned who authorized the publication and whether any employees were held accountable.
Written for “ABC News Investigation Controversy” on 2026-10-13,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning: leans strongly right for article 75617 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-10-13
Eric Trump trashes ABC over ‘bulls–t hit piece,’ backs call for FCC probe into revised story on family biz
By
asserted
Trump → trash → biz
Eric Trump expressed support for a federal probe into a botched story from ABC News about his family’s business dealings with defense contractor Anduril Industries.
asserted
Trump → express → Industries
Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to investigate what led to an erroneous report published on the Disney-owned network’s website last week with the headline “Trump sons’ investments have won billions in Pentagon contracts since his election.”
asserted
investments → call → election
The report was initially deleted without explanation and then republished with a correction.
asserted
report → delete → correction
Eric Trump reacted Monday on X.
“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.
asserted
it → react → explanation
Who approved it?
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Who → approve → it
Has the author been fired?
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author → fire → ?
@ABC owes us answers,” he continued.
asserted
he → owe → answers
“Thus, I urge the Commission to open a formal investigation into ABC News’s political hit job.
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I → urge → job
We must know who signed off on the publication of this false story, who may have asked to profit from the attack, and whether ABC News’s conduct violated its obligations as a licensee,” Moreno said.
uncertain
Moreno → know → licensee
The letter followed ABC News’ decision to remove a report examining investments tied to both Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr.
asserted
letter → follow → Trump
The original Wednesday article claimed companies connected to the president’s sons had secured billions in government contracts, including through venture capital firm 1789 Capital.
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companies → claim → Capital
Moreno specifically challenged the original report’s characterization of Anduril’s financing, arguing that the network had misrepresented the company’s investment activity and unfairly associated the Trump family with federal contracting decisions.
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network → challenge → decisions
The controversy centered on ABC News’ original claim that 1789 Capital, where Trump Jr. serves as a partner, acquired a major strike in Anduril through a $2.5 billion investment.
uncertain
Jr. → center → investment
The figure instead represented Anduril’s broader fundraising round, while 1789 Capital’s investment was approximately $50 million.
asserted
investment → represent → round
ABC News republished a substantially revised article Friday, acknowledging errors involving investments, government contracts and the chronology of events.
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News → republish → events
The updated version also clarified that Trump Jr. does not serve on the firm’s investment decision-making committee.
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Jr. → update → committee
The new headline reads, “New shipyard announced amid earlier Democratic concerns about potential conflicts of interest,” though the original reporter’s byline was replaced with “ABC News.”
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byline → read → News
A 1789 source told Fox News Digital that an ABC News journalist involved with the story defended it over the phone before the story itself was deleted.
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story → tell → phone
Semafor similarly reported Sunday that editors initially stood by the published story, according to emails between ABC News investigative reporter Nathan Lee, who authored the original story, and an Anduril spokesperson.
uncertain
who → report → story
That would contradict the network’s notion to other media reporters that the story was published “prematurely.”
asserted
story → contradict → reporters
ABC News did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
asserted
News → respond → comment
The Aporia
