A Florida-based drone company with ties to Donald Trump Jr. has just landed its largest-ever contract from the Pentagon, raising fresh questions about the intersection of politics, family connections, and military spending.
The Financial Times reported Friday that Unusual Machines had been awarded a contract to manufacture 3,500 drone motors and other components for the U.S. Army. The company also said it expects the military to order an additional 20,000 parts next year—an order that could dramatically expand its footprint in the defense sector.
The CEO of Unusual Machines, Allan Evans, declined to disclose the value of the contract, keeping the exact figures under wraps. But public filings show that Donald Trump Jr. owns 331,580 shares of the company, valued at roughly $4 million. That stake makes him one of the company’s largest individual investors.
“Don has never communicated with anyone in the Administration on behalf of Unusual Machines or about the contract in question,” a company spokesperson told the Financial Times. “His advisory role with them has nothing to do with interfacing with the government.”
Even with that disclaimer, the optics are striking. A company partially owned and advised by the president’s son suddenly lands a major Pentagon deal at a time when scrutiny of political influence in government contracts is already high. For critics, it’s a stark example of how proximity to power can translate into opportunity.
Whether the deal signals the Pentagon’s confidence in Unusual Machines’ technology—or simply the power of a Trump connection—remains unclear. But the timing and scale of the award are likely to draw more than a few raised eyebrows in Washington.
