Washington: Palmer Luckey, founder of U.S.-based Anduril Industries, expressed concerns on Saturday regarding the stalled U.S. arms sales under President Donald Trump, highlighting its impact on his company's business. Luckey revealed that he has personally discussed the issue with Trump.
According to Focus Taiwan, in a joint interview with three media outlets, including CNA, Luckey disclosed that he had brought up the matter with Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The discussion centered around a proposed US$14 billion arms package for Taiwan, which has been delayed and awaits final approval from the Trump administration.
The arms deal, initially reported as being in progress earlier this year, has become a point of contention following a May summit in Beijing between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. During the summit, Trump suggested the arms package could serve as a diplomatic bargaining chip with China. With Trump and Xi scheduled to meet in Washington next week, the outcome of their discussions might significantly influence the deal's future, particularly given Beijing's opposition.
Luckey emphasized the business impact of the delays, stating that the situation has undoubtedly affected Anduril's operations in Taiwan. "Our business with Taiwan would be in a different place if you had that $14 billion moving forward," he noted, although he refrained from providing specific details on the consequences faced by his company.
While Luckey acknowledged the openness of the Trump administration in addressing these concerns, he highlighted the complexity of the situation. According to Luckey, Trump faces significant challenges due to longstanding U.S. policies that have granted China considerable leverage over the United States through rare earth materials, critical component production, and electronics manufacturing.
Luckey pointed out that a substantial portion of U.S. government and military computers are manufactured in China, complicating the decision-making process for Trump. While some advocate for immediate approval of the arms deal, Luckey stated that Trump is being briefed on potential repercussions for American consumers, industries, and the military, necessitating a careful consideration of all factors involved.
The interview took place after Luckey delivered a keynote speech at the second Resilient Taiwan for Sustainable Democracy International Forum, hosted by the Presidential Office.