ABC News adds editor's note correcting deleted Donald Trump Jr. report
Key Points:
- ABC News quietly republished a corrected and toned-down version of a previously deleted report about Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump's business dealings, after the original article faced criticism for inaccuracies and was removed without explanation.
- The original report falsely claimed that 1789 Capital, where Trump Jr. is a partner, had a major stake in Anduril based on a $2.5 billion investment; the revised version clarified that the figure represented total funding raised by Anduril and that 1789 Capital invested $50 million.
- An editor's note acknowledged errors in the initial story regarding company investments, government contracts, and event timelines, adding additional context and corrections in the updated article.
- The removal of the original report drew public criticism from media figures and the Trump family, with Trump Jr. mocking the deletion on social media and investors calling for ABC News to issue a proper correction rather than quietly withdrawing the article.
- ABC News changed the byline to "ABC News" and updated the headline to focus on a new shipyard announcement amid earlier concerns about conflicts of interest, while declining to publicly explain the initial removal.