"Unusual Machines" is the name of a drone and drone component manufacturing company based in Florida that Donald Trump Jr. joined as a paid advisor and major shareholder in November 2024.
Following his appointment to the advisory board, the company's stock price soared, and it subsequently secured a significant contract with the U.S. Army to supply drone motors and other parts. This has raised ethical questions due to his father, President Donald Trump, having signed an executive order earlier in 2025 to boost the domestic drone industry and accelerate military procurement from U.S.-based manufacturers, a policy that directly benefits companies like Unusual Machines.
Key Details
- Company Name: Unusual Machines, Inc. (UMAC)
- Industry: Drones and drone components (including motors, cameras, goggles, and flight controllers)
- Donald Trump Jr.'s Role: Advisor and a major shareholder (owning over 331,000 shares)
- Military Contracts: The company has recently won a contract to provide 3,500 drone motors to the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division, with an indication for future orders of an additional 20,000 components in 2026.
- Ethics Concerns: Critics point to a potential conflict of interest, as Donald Trump Jr. stands to benefit financially from U.S. government contracts awarded under his father's administration. Spokespersons for Trump Jr. maintain he has not communicated with anyone in the administration on the company's behalf.
- Company Mission: Unusual Machines is focused on "onshoring" or bringing drone manufacturing jobs and the supply chain back to the United States to reduce reliance on foreign components, particularly from China.
