Trump Sons’ Drone Venture Targets Gulf Sales Amid Iran Conflict
- Florida-based drone manufacturer Powerus is actively marketing defensive drone interceptors to Gulf nations currently facing attacks from Iran.
- The sales effort coincides with a period of heightened regional instability following a bombing campaign launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28, 2026.
- The involvement of the president's sons in selling military technology to nations dependent on U.S.
Florida-based drone manufacturer Powerus is actively marketing defensive drone interceptors to Gulf nations currently facing attacks from Iran. The company is backed by Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., who entered into a deal with the firm in March 2026 that may grant them sizable equity stakes.
The sales effort coincides with a period of heightened regional instability following a bombing campaign launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28, 2026. The strikes, intended to destabilize the Iranian regime and destroy its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, served as the catalyst for the current war and the subsequent demand for protection among Gulf states.
Ethics Concerns and Political Pressure
The involvement of the president’s sons in selling military technology to nations dependent on U.S. Military leadership has raised significant ethics concerns. Richard Painter, a former chief White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, suggested that Gulf countries may feel coerced into purchasing from the president’s family to maintain favorable relations with the administration.
These countries are under enormous pressure to buy from the sons of the president so he will do what they want. This represents 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.
Richard Painter
The Trump Organization has previously dismissed claims of conflicts of interest. Eric Trump addressed the Powerus investment in a statement released in March 2026, stating, I am incredibly proud to invest in companies I believe in. Drones are clearly the wave of the future.
Financial Strategy and Public Listing
Powerus has recently raised $60 million from investors. To secure further financing, the company is pursuing a reverse merger with a Nasdaq-listed company owned by the Trump family that holds several golf courses in Florida. This strategy allows Powerus to bypass the traditional initial public offering process and quickly become a publicly traded entity.
The company is also positioning itself to capture a portion of $1.1 billion in Pentagon funding. These funds are designated to expand the U.S. Manufacturing base for armed drones, filling a supply gap created after the Trump administration banned the import of such technology from China.
Company Pivot and Technical Capabilities
Founded approximately one year ago by U.S. Army Special Operations veterans, Powerus originally focused on commercial drone applications, including forest fire suppression and the spreading of fertilizer. The company is now rapidly scaling its operations to supply military-grade equipment.
Powerus co-founder Brett Velicovich, an Army veteran, confirmed that the company is conducting drone demonstrations across the Middle East to showcase how its interceptors can defend against Iranian attacks. In a text exchange, Velicovich stated, Our team is doing many demos across the Middle East right now for our interceptors,
adding that the company possesses very incredible tech that can save lives.
Velicovich has defended the venture as a necessary step in a global arms race, arguing that the U.S. Must accelerate manufacturing to compete with Russian and Chinese drone makers. He stated that the goal of investing in American manufacturing transcends politics.
Expansion of Trump Family Business Interests
The investment in Powerus is part of a broader expansion of business interests for Donald Trump Jr. And Eric Trump since their father returned to office. Moving beyond the family’s traditional holdings in golf courses and hotels, the two sons have taken equity stakes or advisory roles in a diverse range of sectors.
- Cryptocurrency ventures
- Prediction markets
- Federal contractors specializing in rare earth magnets
- Federal contractors producing rocket parts
The sons have indicated that they are pursuing these opportunities more aggressively during their father’s second term than they did during his first, claiming they previously exercised too much restraint in expanding their business portfolios.