Capital associated with Trump Jr. 1789 Soars from $200M to $3.5B on ‘America-First’ Investment Push: Report | Today’s news
1789 Capital, a venture capital firm linked to Donald Trump Jr. is fast emerging as a major force in America’s private markets, positioning itself around what it calls “patriotic capitalism” and investing heavily in artificial intelligence, defense technology and America-centric businesses.
According to a Financial Times report, the company’s assets under management rose from around $200 million to $3.5 billion over the past year as it made aggressive investments in some sought-after AI companies.
The expansion highlights how politically connected investors tied to President Donald Trump and his allies are increasingly shaping parts of the US investment landscape.
What is 1789 Capital?
1789 Capital was founded about three years ago by investor Omeed Malik, conservative activist Chris Buskirk and Republican donor Rebekah Mercer.
The firm markets itself as an “America-first” investment platform focused on supporting American companies and technologies.
Partner Paul Abrahimzadeh told the FT that the company wants to become a modern equivalent of The Carlyle Group, a politically connected private equity giant once known for its deep ties to Washington power circles.
“We were the first fund to commit to supporting American exceptionalism in the private market: ‘Patriotic Capitalism,'” Abrahimzadeh said, as quoted by the news site.
He reportedly added that the firm’s goal is to increase assets under management to $10 billion over the next few years.
AI and technology investment are driving growth
Citing PitchBook, the FT reported that 1789 Capital has acquired stakes in several major private technology companies over the past year.
These investments include:
The firm has also invested in some of the best-known names in AI and aerospace, including:
Other investments reportedly include automation company Hadrian Automation, prediction markets platform Polymarket and property-related businesses.
Political context
The Financial Times report highlighted how political connections can help her gain access to elite investment opportunities.
According to the reporter, Mohsen Moazami said he first met the 1,789 Capital executives during a dinner at Mar-a-Lago attended by Trump and Elon Musk.
The company’s political network runs deep into Trump’s world:
-Donald Trump Jr. joined the firm after the 2024 US election.
-Omeed Malik was involved in efforts to bring Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Trump’s political coalition.
-Buskirk previously co-founded a donor network with VP JD Vance backed by billionaire investor Peter Thiel.
-Rebekah Mercer and her father, Robert Mercer, were major financial backers of Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.
Big win from Cerebras IPO
One of the company’s biggest recent successes comes from its investment in Cerebras Systems.
According to the Financial Times, 1789 Capital first invested in Cerebras when the company was valued at around $8 billion and later added a $23 billion valuation to its position.
This week, Cerebras reportedly soared to a market value of roughly $60 billion after its Wall Street debut, giving the investment firm a significant windfall.
