<p>Eric Trump expressed support for a federal investigation into a report from ABC News regarding his family's business dealings with defense contractor Anduril Industries. Senator Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, has called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to investigate the erroneous report published on the Disney-owned network's website, which initially claimed that "Trump sons' investments have won billions in Pentagon contracts since his election." The report was deleted without explanation and later republished with corrections.</p><p>Trump reacted on X, thanking Moreno and stating, "can’t wait to participate!" He criticized the original report, stating, "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. Who approved it? Has the author been fired? @ABC owes us answers." Moreno's letter to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr demanded accountability and questioned whether ABC News violated its obligations as a broadcaster.</p><p>Moreno urged the Commission to open a formal investigation into the report, stating, "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." The controversy arose from ABC News' original claim that 1789 Capital, where Trump Jr. is a partner, had secured a major stake in Anduril through a $2.5 billion investment. This figure actually represented Anduril's broader fundraising round, while 1789 Capital's investment was approximately $50 million.</p><p>ABC News republished a revised article acknowledging errors related to investments, government contracts, and the chronology of events. The updated version clarified that Trump Jr. does not serve on the firm's investment decision-making committee. The new headline reads, "New shipyard announced amid earlier Democratic concerns about potential conflicts of interest," and the original reporter's byline was replaced with "ABC News." A source from 1789 stated that an ABC News journalist involved with the story defended it before its deletion. Reports indicated that editors initially stood by the published story, contradicting the network's claim that it was published "prematurely." ABC News did not immediately respond to requests for comment.</p>
Why this rating? · 13 signals
Signals flagged in the original
- loaded language: 'trashes'
- loaded language: 'botched story'
- loaded language: 'bulls--- hit piece'
- loaded language: 'political hit job'
- loaded language: 'false story'
- loaded language: 'under the cover of darkness'
- framing: The headline foregrounds Eric Trump's attack and treats the ABC report as a 'hit piece.'
- framing: The article gives extensive space to Trump and Sen. Moreno's allegations of a politically motivated and profit-driven attack.
Analyzed by our bias model Full breakdown ↓
Eric Trump Supports FCC Investigation into ABC News Report
Eric Trump has backed a call for an FCC investigation into ABC News following a report about his family's business dealings that was later deleted and corrected. Senator Bernie Moreno criticized the original report, which inaccurately claimed significant Pentagon contracts linked to the Trump family, and demanded accountability from the network.
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Language Analysis
Loaded Language Removed
- ✕ loaded language: 'trashes'
- ✕ loaded language: 'botched story'
- ✕ loaded language: 'bulls--- hit piece'
- ✕ loaded language: 'political hit job'
- ✕ loaded language: 'false story'
- ✕ loaded language: 'under the cover of darkness'
- ✕ framing: The headline foregrounds Eric Trump's attack and treats the ABC report as a 'hit piece.'
- ✕ framing: The article gives extensive space to Trump and Sen. Moreno's allegations of a politically motivated and profit-driven attack.
- ✕ framing: ABC's correction is detailed, but the outlet's lack of response is used to reinforce the critical narrative.
- ✕ editorializing: a federal probe into a botched story from ABC News
Original vs. Neutral
Eric Trump trashes ABC over 'bulls--- hit piece,' backs call for FCC probe into revised story
Eric Trump Supports FCC Investigation into ABC News Report