Trump Sons’ Drone Company Seeks Pentagon Deals Worth $1.1 Billion

A drone manufacturing company partially owned by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump is competing for Pentagon contracts worth $1.1 billion. The firm, Powerus, has rapidly expanded by acquiring competitors and raising $60 million in funding while pursuing military drone contracts.

A drone manufacturing company with financial backing from President Donald Trump’s eldest sons is positioning itself to compete for lucrative Pentagon contracts.

Powerus, which counts Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump among its investors, has experienced rapid growth through acquisitions of competitor companies and is eyeing a share of the $1.1 billion the Pentagon has allocated for building domestic armed drone manufacturing capabilities following the administration’s prohibition on Chinese drone imports.

The Trump family’s business expansion has faced scrutiny for international real estate ventures in countries seeking presidential favor and cryptocurrency investments that benefit from administration policies. Less noticed are their new investments in federal contractors supplying various products from rocket components and rare earth materials to artificial intelligence processors and computing equipment.

Company co-founder Brett Velicovich dismissed concerns about potential conflicts of interest regarding government contracts that could financially benefit the president’s family members.

“There’s no conflict there. Whatever they’re doing, is what they’re doing,” Velicovich stated when asked about the Trump brothers’ involvement. “Our focus at the company has nothing to do with politics.”

When contacted for comment about possible conflicts, the Trump Organization provided a statement from Eric Trump: “I am incredibly proud to invest in companies I believe in. Drones are clearly the wave of the future.”

Established approximately one year ago by former U.S. Army Special Operations personnel, Powerus currently produces drones primarily for civilian applications including agricultural fertilizer distribution and wildfire suppression. However, the company is rapidly scaling operations to provide the Defense Department with military drones similar to those deployed in conflicts involving Ukraine, Russia, and Iran’s recent attacks on U.S.-allied Gulf nations.

The firm has acquired three competing companies within the last six months and intends additional purchases. Powerus recently secured $60 million in investor funding for its acquisition strategy and plans to access further capital through a reverse merger process, where a private entity gains public trading status by purchasing an existing publicly-traded company with minimal operations.

The target public company is Aureus Greenway Holdings, a Florida-based entity partially owned by Eric and Donald Jr. that operates several golf properties and maintains a Nasdaq listing.

Between the two brothers, Donald Jr. maintains the most extensive involvement in federal contracting businesses through his venture capital firm, 1789 Capital.

Following Trump’s reelection, 1789 Capital brought Donald Jr. on as a partner before launching an aggressive investment campaign, backing 25 companies within one year compared to just six investments in the previous two years, according to Pitchbook research data. The majority of these target companies appear to be pursuing federal contracts, taxpayer funding, or have already secured such agreements.

The Trump brothers have also established their own investment company to acquire stakes in American businesses aligned with their father’s goal of revitalizing domestic manufacturing. After The Associated Press inquired about regulatory filing language indicating the firm would target companies seeking federal grants, Trump’s chief business attorney submitted revised documentation removing that language.

Donald Jr. appears well-positioned to support Powerus’s objectives. He has publicly advocated for armed drone development, demonstrates technical knowledge of the industry, and publicly supported Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during his contentious confirmation process.

When questioned about Powerus’s decision to merge with a Trump-affiliated company rather than the numerous other Nasdaq-listed entities with minimal operations, co-founder Velicovich said he lacked financial expertise to explain the choice.

“Our focus is 100% on getting the right technology in the hands of the warfighter,” he explained, “regardless of who the investors are.”