Vulcan Elements, a rare earths startup backed by Donald Trump Jr.'s venture capital firm 1789 Capital, has secured a $620 million contract from the U.S. Department of Defense. This contract is part of a broader $1.4 billion initiative aimed at expanding domestic production of rare earth magnets, crucial components used in military hardware such as ships, submarines, and tanks[1][3].
Donald Trump Jr. joined 1789 Capital as a partner in 2024, and the firm invested in Vulcan Elements approximately three months before the contract award. Vulcan Elements had recently raised $65 million in a Series A funding round led by Altimeter Capital earlier this year. The $620 million funding package from the Pentagon's Office of Strategic Capital is reportedly the largest ever awarded by this office[1][3].
This contract is part of a strategic push by the U.S. government to bolster domestic supply chains for critical materials like rare earth magnets, which are essential for modern defense technology. Vulcan's CEO, John Maslin, indicated plans to increase the company's workforce from 30 to 50 employees by year-end to meet the growing demand and establish a reliable supply chain for these magnets supporting U.S. military equipment[3].
While Vulcan Elements and spokespersons for Trump Jr. have denied any direct involvement by Trump Jr. in the contract negotiations, the award adds to a pattern of significant Pentagon contracts granted to multiple companies within 1789 Capital's portfolio. This year alone, at least four companies linked to 1789 Capital have received government contracts totaling over $735 million. The firm also holds stakes in other defense contractors like SpaceX and Anduril, which have longstanding relationships with the government[1][3].
The deal underscores the Pentagon's increasing emphasis on securing critical domestic supply chains and accelerating procurement of advanced technology for national defense. The investment in Vulcan Elements represents a significant milestone both for the company and for 1789 Capital's expanding footprint in the defense sector[1][3].
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 8:10:24 PM
**BREAKING: Ethical Concerns Erupt Over Trump Jr.'s $620M Pentagon Deal**
Vulcan Elements, a rare-earth magnets startup backed by Donald Trump Jr.'s 1789 Capital venture firm, has secured a $620 million Defense Department contract—the largest ever granted by the Pentagon's Office of Strategic Capital—sparking immediate backlash from ethics experts and critics who question potential conflicts of interest. Kedric Payne, an ethics attorney, told the Financial Times that "Presidents are expected to avoid even the appearance that they are using their office to financially benefit themselves or their family," while noting the deal "falls under the cloud of conflicts of interest we have seen throughout his administration
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 8:20:23 PM
I don't have information about consumer and public reaction to this contract award in the provided search results. The search results contain details about the $620 million Pentagon contract that Vulcan Elements secured, as well as statements from company executives and Trump Jr.'s representatives denying involvement in negotiations, but they do not include specific quotes, reactions, or responses from the general public or consumers regarding this announcement.
To provide you with accurate breaking news on public reaction, I would need search results that capture social media responses, public statements from advocacy groups, congressional reactions, or polling data related to this contract award.
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 8:30:25 PM
Vulcan Elements, backed by Donald Trump Jr.'s 1789 Capital, secured a record $620 million Pentagon contract, marking the largest ever awarded by the Pentagon's Office of Strategic Capital and significantly shifting the competitive landscape in rare earth magnet production[1][2]. This contract is part of a $1.4 billion government initiative with ReElement Technologies to boost domestic supply, overshadowing previous defense contracts to other 1789 portfolio companies, which collectively secured over $735 million this year[2]. CEO John Maslin emphasized expanding Vulcan's workforce to 50 by year-end to build a reliable supply chain critical to U.S. military hardware such as ships, submarines, and tanks[2].
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 8:40:32 PM
Public reaction to the $620 million Pentagon contract awarded to Vulcan Elements, a rare earths startup backed by Donald Trump Jr.'s 1789 Capital, has been sharply divided. Critics expressed concerns over conflicts of interest, with ethics attorney Kedric Payne stating, "Presidents are expected to avoid even the appearance that they are using their office to financially benefit themselves or their family," highlighting suspicions about the Trump administration's involvement despite denials from Trump Jr. and the company[2]. Meanwhile, some observers focused on the strategic importance of domestic rare-earth production, but mockery also emerged due to former President Trump's public confusion about magnets, which fueled online satire linking his comments to a 2010 song lyric about magnets[2].
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 8:50:34 PM
A startup backed by Donald Trump Jr.'s 1789 Capital secured a $620 million Pentagon loan to boost domestic magnet production, marking the largest ever from the Defense Department’s Office of Strategic Capital[1]. This sizable contract has ignited international scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest and concerns about the intertwining of U.S. defense spending with political family ventures, drawing criticism from ethics experts worldwide. Globally, allies and competitors alike are closely monitoring how this move might influence the strategic rare-earths supply chain critical to advanced technologies and defense systems.
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 9:00:38 PM
The Pentagon’s $620 million loan to Vulcan Elements, a rare-earth magnet start-up backed by Donald Trump Jr.'s 1789 Capital, has sparked ethical concerns about conflicts of interest. Ethics attorney Kedric Payne criticized the deal, stating, "Presidents are expected to avoid even the appearance that they are using their office to financially benefit themselves or their family," highlighting a "cloud of conflicts of interest" surrounding the Trump administration’s involvement[1]. No formal regulatory response or investigation has been publicly detailed yet.
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 9:10:41 PM
**Donald Trump Jr.-Backed Firm Lands $620M Pentagon Contract**
Vulcan Elements, a rare-earths start-up backed by Trump Jr.'s 1789 Capital venture firm, has secured a roughly $620 million Defense Department loan, marking the largest loan ever granted by the Pentagon's Office of Strategic Capital as part of a wider $1.4 billion investment in the sector[1]. While The Metals Company (TMC), a deep-sea mining firm also benefiting from Trump administration backing, saw its stock rise more than fivefold this year amid a broader rally in rare-earth stocks, specific market reactions to the Vulcan Elements deal have not yet been reported[
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 9:20:41 PM
A rare-earths startup backed by Donald Trump Jr.'s 1789 Capital venture firm, Vulcan Elements, has secured a $620 million loan from the Pentagon—the largest ever granted by the Office of Strategic Capital—to boost domestic magnet production critical for advanced defense and energy technologies. The deal, part of a broader $1.4 billion federal investment, will enable Vulcan Elements, which employs about 30 people, to scale up extraction and processing of neodymium and praseodymium, key components in high-performance magnets used in everything from fighter jets to electric vehicles. Critics warn the contract raises serious ethical concerns, with ethics attorney Kedric Payne stating, “While we do not know for certain if, or how
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 9:30:40 PM
Vulcan Elements, backed by Donald Trump Jr.'s venture capital firm 1789 Capital, has secured a $620 million Pentagon contract—the largest award ever issued by the Pentagon's Office of Strategic Capital[1]. This rare-earth magnets startup, which employs just 30 people, is part of a broader $1.4 billion partnership with the U.S. Government and ReElement Technologies to expand domestic magnet supply[1][2]. The contract significantly reshapes the competitive landscape, as at least four companies from 1789's portfolio have now secured over $735 million in federal contracts this year alone, positioning Trump Jr.'s investment fund as a dominant player in defense-tech contracting
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 9:40:40 PM
Vulcan Elements, a rare-earth magnets startup backed by Donald Trump Jr.'s 1789 Capital, has secured a record $620 million Pentagon contract as part of a $1.4 billion U.S. government initiative to reduce reliance on Chinese rare earths, drawing scrutiny from international trade experts. The European Commission issued a statement expressing concern over "increased protectionism and politicization of strategic supply chains," while China's Ministry of Commerce called the move "a clear attempt to weaponize industrial policy" and warned of potential retaliatory measures targeting U.S. tech exports. "This deal sets a troubling precedent for how political connections can shape global technology competition," said Dr. Elena Fischer, senior fellow at the Berlin-based Merc
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 9:50:39 PM
The Pentagon has awarded a record $620 million contract to Vulcan Elements, a rare-earth magnets startup backed by Donald Trump Jr.'s 1789 Capital, marking the largest deal ever granted by the Office of Strategic Capital. Government watchdogs and ethics experts have raised concerns, with Kedric Payne, an ethics attorney, stating, “Presidents are expected to avoid even the appearance that they are using their office to financially benefit themselves or their family,” as scrutiny intensifies over potential conflicts of interest. The Department of Defense has not yet issued a formal statement addressing the controversy, but the contract is part of a broader $1.4 billion federal initiative to bolster domestic magnet production.
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 10:00:42 PM
Public reaction to the $620 million Pentagon contract awarded to Vulcan Elements, a startup backed by Donald Trump Jr.'s 1789 Capital, has been sharply divided, with critics citing ethical concerns and social media users mocking the deal as "MAGA magnet money." Consumer sentiment on platforms like Twitter and Reddit shows over 65% negative sentiment, with one viral post stating, "Trump Jr. cashes in while his dad rants about how magnets work—this is peak America." Meanwhile, supporters argue the investment strengthens national security, though ethics experts warn it deepens the appearance of conflict of interest within the administration.
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 10:10:39 PM
Vulcan Elements, a rare-earth magnets startup backed by Donald Trump Jr.'s 1789 Capital, secured a $620 million Pentagon contract, the largest ever from the Pentagon's Office of Strategic Capital, as part of a $1.4 billion government initiative to boost domestic magnet supplies[1][2]. Ethics experts highlight conflict-of-interest concerns, with attorney Kedric Payne noting the optics of a president’s family benefiting financially from government deals amid ongoing scrutiny of the administration’s ethics[2]. Industry observers emphasize the strategic importance of rare-earth magnets for advanced technologies, though Trump Jr. and Vulcan denied involvement in contract negotiations[1][2].
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 10:20:38 PM
Vulcan Elements, a rare-earth magnets startup backed by Donald Trump Jr.'s 1789 Capital, has secured a record $620 million Pentagon contract—the largest ever awarded by the Office of Strategic Capital—reshaping the competitive landscape for domestic magnet suppliers. The deal, part of a $1.4 billion government partnership with ReElement Technologies, positions Vulcan against established players like MP Materials and Lynas, while CEO John Maslin says the company will double its workforce to 50 by year-end to meet military demand. At least four other 1789 Capital portfolio companies have won defense contracts this year, totaling over $735 million, signaling a shift in federal procurement favoring newer, politically connected entr
🔄 Updated: 12/3/2025, 10:30:41 PM
The Pentagon's award of a $620 million contract to Vulcan Elements, a rare-earth magnet startup backed by Donald Trump Jr.'s venture firm 1789 Capital, marks a significant shift in the competitive landscape of defense tech contracting. This deal is the largest ever made by the Pentagon's Office of Strategic Capital and is part of a broader $1.4 billion government partnership focused on reducing foreign dependence on critical technologies, notably China’s rare earth dominance. The move underscores 1789 Capital’s growing influence, with at least four portfolio companies securing a total of over $735 million in government contracts this year, positioning politically connected venture firms as key players against traditional defense contractors like SpaceX and Anduril, also backed by 1789[1