ABC removes report on Trump-linked companies and contracts

ABC News removed an investigation into companies linked to Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump less than a day after it was published, and has not publicly explained the decision. The report, published Wednesday, said companies connected to the president’s sons had secured more than $6 billion in active or promised government contracts. By Thursday morning, its page was unavailable. An unnamed person familiar with ABC News told TheWrap the story was taken down because it had been published prematurely, while reporting was still being finalized. ABC had not publicly confirmed that explanation or announced whether the investigation would be republished as of Friday. The report focused in part on Anduril, a defense technology company, and 1789 Capital, where Trump Jr. is a partner. It described 1789 Capital as having made a major investment in Anduril as part of a $2.5 billion financing round. The report also cited government contract awards to Anduril and other companies it linked to the Trump brothers. Alexa Henning, a spokesperson for 1789 Capital, disputed the report’s characterization of the firm’s investments.