A drone company backed by US President Donald Trump’s two eldest sons is pitching its products to Gulf countries facing attacks from Iran and relying on US military support led by their father amid the ongoing US-Iran war.
Florida-based Powerus, which recently brought on Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., is positioning itself to benefit from the ongoing conflict that began after US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
“These countries are under enormous pressure to buy from the sons of the president so he will do what they want,” said Richard Painter, who served under George W. Bush, according to a report by The Associated Press.
“This is going to be the first family of a president to make a lot of money off war, a war he didn’t get the consent of Congress for.”
Powerus co-founder Brett Velicovich said that the company is conducting drone demonstrations across several Gulf nations, showcasing interceptor systems designed to counter Iranian attacks.
“Our team is doing many demos across the Middle East right now for our interceptors,” Velicovich said in an text exchange. “We have very incredible tech that can save lives.”
Responding to criticism last month, Eric Trump said that he was incredibly proud to invest in companies he believed in and that drones were clearly the wave of the future, the report added.
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Trump brothers’ deal
The Trump brothers’ deal with Powerus could give them significant equity stakes, AP Reported.
Powerus has rejected concerns about conflicts of interest. Velicovich stressed the urgency of competing with global rivals.
“We are at war, my friend, we are in an arms race and America will lose if we don’t build fast,” he said. “We should be thankful anyone is trying to invest in American manufacturing now. That idea transcends politics.”
Since Trump returned to office, his sons have expanded beyond traditional family businesses like hotels and golf courses. Their newer ventures include cryptocurrency, prediction markets, and federal contracting firms involved in advanced manufacturing.
Powerus is also targeting a share of the Pentagon’s $1.1 billion fund aimed at strengthening US drone production, especially after restrictions were placed on Chinese imports.
The Trump Organization did not respond to requests for comment but has previously dismissed conflict-of-interest concerns. The brothers have argued they were overly cautious in expanding their business interests during Trump’s first term and do not plan to repeat that approach.
Also Read | Iran still has ‘significant’ missile, drone arsenal despite Trump’s ‘decimation’ claim, report says
Eric Trump’s response
Responding to criticism last month, Eric Trump said, “I am incredibly proud to invest in companies I believe in. Drones are clearly the wave of the future,” AP reported.
Founded about a year ago by US Army Special Operations veterans, Powerus initially focused on commercial drone applications such as agriculture and firefighting. It is now rapidly scaling up its military production.
The company recently raised $60 million and is exploring further funding through a reverse merger with a Trump-linked company listed on Nasdaq that owns golf courses in Florida. This route would allow it to go public faster by bypassing the longer initial public offering process.
