That came out of nowhere.
On May 31, 2025, Lucas Botkin, founder and longtime CEO of T.REX ARMS, announced his departure from the company via Instagram. As it turns out, he had already stepped down on May 28. In his post, Botkin described the decision as “not made lightly but necessary” — a step taken to protect his family and uphold his personal values.
Image above: Screenshot of the status update on Instagram (@lucasbotkin_)
The news hit the tactical community like a truck. Since its founding in 2013, T.REX ARMS has been seen as a pillar of the U.S. tactical and gear scene — a company as solid and consistent as they come. A departure of this scale, without any public warning or signs of escalation, was something nobody saw really coming.
On June 8, Botkin followed up with a more detailed statement on YouTube. In it, he spoke of a rift within the leadership team. According to him, the final straw was an incident where his wife received inappropriate content from a T.REX employee. Botkin claims the response from the rest of the leadership team was disappointingly passive, prompting him to fully cut ties with the company.
The community reaction was swift and loud. Influential voices like MrGunsnGear and Garand Thumb publicly supported Lucas. Meanwhile, a wave of backlash hit T.REX ARMS — many fans were openly critical of how the leadership handled the situation. Longtime collaborator Brantley Merriam also announced his resignation from the company in response to the fallout.
Behind the scenes, trouble may have been brewing for some time. Reports suggest that internal talks about the future direction of the company had been ongoing since January 2025. No concrete details have emerged so far. What is certain: with Botkin’s departure, T.REX ARMS loses not only its most recognizable face but also its founding force.
The future of the company remains uncertain. Many are now asking whether T.REX ARMS will stay on its current path or undergo a fundamental transformation without Botkin at the helm. Lucas has already announced plans to launch several new ventures in the near future — each guided by his personal convictions and values.
