DJI ban: how the world’s biggest dronemaker is getting shoved out of the US

December 23rd, 2025. That’s the day DJI will automatically be banned from the United States — unless Trump steps in.

You’ll still be able to fly your existing DJI drones and film with existing Osmo cameras. But DJI will be barred from importing any new products into the US, and the FCC can retroactively ban imports of old DJI products too, after a waiting period. Not just drones, by the way — anything with a wireless radio.

Why a ban? Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle claim to be worried the Chinese company is spying on us, even though the US government has never publicly provided evidence of that. Some worry China could compel the company to turn over drone data. (DJI has denied it shares any data with China, claims it stores all such data in the US and announced it would delete all US flight logs in September 2024.)

Some also suggest DJI wouldn’t need to be compelled because DJI is allegedly “owned by the Chinese Communist Party,” though a US judge decided there wasn’t enough evidence to back that up in September 2025.

Either way, lawmakers and Trump would clearly prefer that American drones “dominate” the skies rather than Chinese ones, and it’s true that DJI’s drones dominate today. No other company has been able to produce similarly a volume of high-quality, low-cost drones, to the point that some Republican lawmakers finally began to push back against a ban just weeks before the December 2025 deadline.

They argue that DJI drones are important for farmers, energy companies, and rescue workers since no viable alternatives exist. Most of of DJI’s old competitors, like Skydio, have pivoted to enterprise and military — the new Insta360/Antigravity A1 is an unusual exception.

Even without a ban, DJI was already on the rails. US customs has been blocking many of its drone imports for over a year, seemingly claiming that DJI was using forced labor to produce its drones. (DJI denies this.) Between import scrutiny, increased tariffs and the broader political situation, most of its products had disappeared from store shelves; it didn’t even bother to launch its flagship Mavic 4 Pro, Mini 5 Pro, and Neo 2 in the US.

Instead, it appears DJI has been looking to sneak its products into the US under other brand names, like Xtra for cameras, or Skyrover for consumer drones, though the FCC will likely be able to crack down on those as well.

At this point, the ban looks inevitable. To avoid it, “an appropriate national security agency” would need to audit DJI and decide it’s not a threat, but DJI says no agency has taken up the task just weeks before the deadline.

But never say never. Remember the TikTok ban? Trump pressed pause on that one, despite it being signed into law, and those lawmakers seem to have no idea what might happen next. Trump has recently enjoyed shaking down tech companies including Intel, Nvidia, and Apple in exchange for political and financial wins, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see him cut a deal with DJI as well.

• US DJI ban is less than a month away.
• DJI’s Neo 2 selfie drone launches globally, but not in the US
• The FCC just gave itself the power to make a DJI drone ban stick
• DJI’s not-for-US drones are suddenly available on Amazon two months ahead of a ban.
• DJI’s excellent Osmo Pocket 3 is over $200 off in its first sale since tariffs
• Xtra: the company that lets DJI sneak its popular cameras into the US
• Pentagon can call DJI a Chinese Military Company, court rules
• DJI Mini 5 Pro official: 1-inch sensors come to small drones, plus the longest battery life yet
• I flew Insta360’s Antigravity — it could change how drones are made
• Trump’s FAA wants to let companies (and you) fly drones beyond the line of sight.
• DJI won’t sell you an Osmo 360 in the US — but these retailers will
• DJI couldn’t confirm or deny it disguised this drone to evade a US ban
• DJI ‘remains committed to the US market’ as shelves go bare of drones
• DJI is now six months away from a US ban — it wants you to ‘make your voice heard now.’
• Sure enough, Trump’s EO on ‘American Drone Dominance’ doesn’t contain a DJI ban.
• Is Trump about to ban DJI drones — or help them avoid a ban?
• DJI won’t explain why the Mavic 4 Pro went on sale in the USA.
• DJI is skipping the US with its most advanced drone yet
• DJI’s back-to-back Osmo Pocket 3 price hikes take it from $519 to $799 in two months
• DJI explains why it won’t stop drones from flying over the White House — and what happens in a US ban
• DJI claims its decision to let drones fly in dangerous areas is not political
• DJI will no longer stop drones from flying over airports, wildfires, and the White House
• DJI escapes US drone ban — but may get banned automatically unless Trump steps in
• DJI sues the US Department of Defense for labeling it a ‘Chinese Military Company’
• DJI says US customs is blocking its drone imports
• DJI might get banned next in the US
• The government blacklisted DJI drones, but some drone companies are more confused than worried
• US government adds DJI to Commerce blacklist over ties to Chinese government
• The US government grounded DJI — but here are the five drones it just approved
• The US just showed it still believes Chinese-made drones are a security risk
• DJI launches a privacy mode for its drones after US Army ban
• US Army reportedly asks units to stop using DJI drones, citing cybersecurity concerns