Anduril founder says Trump's Taiwan arms delay is hurting business
Palmer Luckey told reporters in Taipei that a stalled $14 billion U.S. arms package to Taiwan is affecting Anduril's business there, and that he has raised the issue with Trump and his team.
What happened
Palmer Luckey, founder of Anduril Industries, said on September 19 that the delay in U.S. arms sales to Taiwan is affecting his company's business. Speaking to reporters in Taipei at a defense forum, Luckey said the $14 billion package that has awaited President Trump's approval for months is holding back Anduril's work on the island. He declined to specify which projects were stalled but said the delay had broader ripple effects: "It's that as long as that's stuck, you don't have continued forward progress in other areas."
Luckey said he had discussed the issue with Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He acknowledged Trump faces competing pressures—including concern that approving more arms sales to Taiwan could anger China and affect U.S. supply chains for rare earth elements used in tech. Luckey said Trump "has to weigh all of those things" and is "in a really difficult situation."
Background
Taiwan is a democratically governed island that China claims as its own. The U.S. is required by law to provide Taiwan with defensive weapons, though President Trump has questioned this commitment. Anduril's Altius drone is already in use by Taiwan's military. Last year, Taiwan also unveiled the Barracuda-500, an autonomous cruise missile jointly made with Anduril. The defense relationship between the U.S. and Taiwan has become more important as drones reshape modern warfare, seen in the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
What to watch next
Watch for Trump's decision on the $14 billion Taiwan arms package, which is likely to be discussed when Trump meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The outcome will signal whether Taiwan's military modernization plans—and Anduril's Taiwan business—can move forward.
Sources
- Original report: Defense firm Anduril says U.S. delay on Taiwan arms sales affecting its business (CNBC, Sep 19, 2026) Mainstream media
Written by Anduril News with AI assistance from the original report and other coverage, in plain English. It can contain mistakes; check the original for anything important. How we write these.
