In a development that has ethics watchdogs howling, a Florida-based drone manufacturer backed by Donald Trump’s two oldest sons is actively trying to sell defensive drone interceptors to Gulf states currently under attack by Iran – countries that are also heavily dependent on the U.S. military led by their father, President Donald Trump. Powerus, the company in question, announced a deal last month that brought Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. on board as equity partners. Now, as the Middle East teeters on the brink of wider war, Powerus is positioning itself to cash in on the very conflict that the Trump administration helped ignite.
“These countries are under enormous pressure to buy off the president’s children so he can do whatever they want,” said Richard Painter, former chief White House ethics lawyer during the George W. Bush administration. “This will be the first family of a president to make a lot of money from a war – a war for which he did not get congressional consent.” Painter’s comments reflect a growing chorus of concern that the Trump family is blurring – or obliterating – the line between public service and private profit. The Trump sons have not been given formal roles in the administration, but their business dealings inevitably raise questions about influence peddling and conflicts of interest.
Powerus co-founder Brett Velicovich confirmed the sales campaign to the Associated Press. “Our team is doing a lot of demonstrations throughout the Middle East right now for our interceptors,” Velicovich said in a text message exchange. “We have incredible technology that can save lives.” He declined to name the specific Gulf countries, but sources familiar with the matter say they include the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar – all of which have been targeted by Iranian drone and missile strikes since the U.S. and Israel launched a coordinated attack on Iranian nuclear facilities more than a month ago. That attack, ordered by President Trump without prior congressional approval, plunged the region into open conflict.
Powerus specializes in low-cost, AI-driven drone interceptors that can take down hostile drones mid-flight. The technology is in high demand, as Iran has been using swarms of cheap, explosive drones to overwhelm Gulf air defenses. The company’s sales pitch: “Our interceptors cost $20,000 each, compared to $1 million for a Patriot missile. We can protect your skies without bankrupting your treasury.” It’s a compelling argument, and the Trump sons’ involvement gives Powerus a unique advantage: perceived access to the commander in chief.
Critics, however, see it differently. “It’s textbook corruption,” said a senior Democratic senator who requested anonymity. “The president starts a war, and his sons profit from selling weapons to countries that need protection from that same war. It’s a loop of self-dealing that would make a mob boss blush.” The Trump administration has denied any impropriety. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “The president has no involvement in his sons’ private business ventures. Any suggestion otherwise is a partisan smear.” But ethics experts note that even the appearance of a conflict can violate federal standards of conduct. “Federal employees – including the president – are prohibited from using their office for private gain,” Painter said. “When foreign governments see that the president’s sons have a financial stake in a company, they may feel compelled to buy that company’s products to curry favor with the president. That’s the definition of an appearance problem.”
Powerus’s deal with the Trump sons was announced in March, just weeks after the war began. The terms were not disclosed, but sources say Eric and Don Jr. received substantial equity stakes in exchange for their “strategic advisory services.” Neither son has a background in drone technology. “They’re selling access, not expertise,” said a former Pentagon official. “And that’s dangerous.”
So far, no Gulf country has publicly announced a purchase from Powerus. But Velicovich said demonstrations have been “well-received.” If a deal is struck, the Trump sons stand to make millions – directly from governments that are simultaneously begging the Trump administration for military aid and diplomatic support. “It’s a beautiful thing,” Eric Trump reportedly told a business associate, according to a leaked email. “We help them, they help us.” That email is now being reviewed by congressional investigators.
For now, Powerus continues its sales pitch as Iranian drones continue to strike Gulf oil facilities. The war rages on. And the Trump family business, once again, finds itself at the center of a storm. Whether this will lead to actual legal consequences or just more ethical hand-wringing remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: in the Trump era, the line between family, politics, and profit has never been thinner – and in the case of Powerus, it may have vanished altogether.