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Among dozens of companies vying for lucrative Pentagon drone contracts, one firm has emerged with unique connections to the White House: Powerus, a rapidly expanding drone manufacturer partly owned by President Donald Trump’s two eldest sons.
The company is positioning itself to capture a share of the $1.1 billion allocated by the Pentagon to develop a domestic manufacturing base for armed drones, following the Trump administration’s ban on Chinese imports. This initiative comes as armed drones increasingly dominate modern warfare, with their deployment in Ukraine, Russia, and recently by Iran against U.S. allies in the Gulf region.
Founded about a year ago by U.S. Army Special Operations veterans, Powerus primarily manufactures drones for commercial applications such as agricultural fertilizer distribution and forest firefighting. However, the company has embarked on an aggressive expansion strategy focused on military applications, acquiring three competitors in the past six months and securing $60 million from investors to fund further acquisitions.
Powerus plans to go public through a “reverse merger” with Aureus Greenway Holdings, a Florida-based Nasdaq-listed company partially owned by Eric and Donald Trump Jr. This maneuver would provide Powerus with a public listing without the traditional IPO process.
When questioned about potential conflicts of interest, Powerus co-founder Brett Velicovich dismissed concerns. “There’s no conflict there. Whatever they’re doing, is what they’re doing,” he said. “Our focus at the company has nothing to do with politics.”
Eric Trump provided a statement through the Trump Organization: “I am incredibly proud to invest in companies I believe in. Drones are clearly the wave of the future.”
The involvement of the Trump brothers in federal contractors extends beyond Powerus. Donald Trump Jr. recently became a partner in the venture capital fund 1789 Capital, which has dramatically accelerated its investment activity since Trump’s reelection. The fund has invested in 25 companies in just one year, compared to only six purchases in the two previous years, according to research firm Pitchbook. Most of these investments target companies seeking or already holding federal contracts.
The brothers have also established their own investment firm focused on supporting American manufacturing companies. After inquiries from The Associated Press about language in a regulatory filing indicating the firm would target companies seeking federal grants, Trump’s chief business lawyer filed a new document with that language removed.
Donald Trump Jr. appears particularly well-positioned to assist Powerus in its Pentagon ambitions. He has publicly advocated for armed drone technology and endorsed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during contentious confirmation hearings.
Ethics experts have raised alarms about these business connections. Kathleen Clark, a government ethics specialist at Washington University School of Law, was unequivocal: “It’s corruption. Government decision makers will feel pressure to use contract awards to enrich the president’s family.”
When asked why Powerus specifically chose to merge with a Trump-affiliated company despite numerous other options on the Nasdaq with minimal operations, Velicovich claimed limited knowledge of the financial aspects, stating, “Our focus is 100% on getting the right technology in the hands of the warfighter, regardless of who the investors are.”
The Trump family’s business expansion during the presidency has drawn scrutiny on multiple fronts, including real estate developments in countries seeking diplomatic favor and cryptocurrency ventures benefiting from administration policies. Their growing stakes in federal contractors—supplying critical military and technological components ranging from rocket parts to rare earth magnets and AI chips—represent a less publicized but potentially more consequential arena where personal financial interests intersect with national security decision-making.
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6 Comments
As drone technology continues to advance, the military applications and global competition in this space are only going to intensify. It will be interesting to see how Powerus positions itself against other established players.
The growth and consolidation strategy of Powerus is quite aggressive. I’ll be curious to see how they fare in securing those lucrative military drone contracts, given their political connections.
You raise a good point. Political ties can certainly open doors, but the technology and capability of their drones will be the real deciding factor.
The ban on Chinese drone imports seems to have created an opportunity for domestic manufacturers like Powerus. However, I hope the selection process remains fair and focused on the merits of the technology rather than political affiliations.
It’s interesting to see a drone manufacturer with ties to the Trump family vying for Pentagon contracts. I wonder how their technology and experience compare to other competitors in this space.
The growing importance of drones in modern warfare is undeniable. I’m curious to see how Powerus’ offerings perform compared to the competition and whether their political ties give them an edge in the bidding process.