Trump Sons’ Drone Firm Courts Gulf Buyers During Iran War
The Associated Press reports that Florida-based drone company Powerus, which recently brought Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. on board with prospective equity stakes, is actively pitching its drone interceptors to Gulf countries currently under Iranian attack and reliant on U.S. military protection directed by their father, President Donald Trump. Co‑founder Brett Velicovich says the firm is conducting multiple demonstrations across the Middle East to showcase its defensive interceptors, while declining to name the specific countries involved. Ethics experts like former George W. Bush White House lawyer Richard Painter warn that Gulf governments may feel intense pressure to buy from the president’s sons to secure favorable treatment from Washington, calling it a case of the First Family potentially making money off a war launched without explicit congressional authorization. Powerus is also positioning itself to tap into a $1.1 billion Pentagon program meant to build a domestic armed‑drone manufacturing base after a Trump‑era ban on Chinese imports, and Velicovich frames the effort as part of an urgent arms race with China and Russia. The story highlights the expanding web of Trump family business ventures—from crypto to federal contracting—and deepens long‑running concerns about war profiteering, conflicts of interest, and foreign leverage over U.S. decision‑making in the Iran conflict.
📌 Key Facts
- Powerus, a Florida drone maker, announced a deal last month to bring Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. into the company with potential equity stakes.
- Co‑founder Brett Velicovich says Powerus is conducting drone‑interceptor demonstrations and sales pitches in multiple Gulf countries to help them counter Iranian attacks, but will not name the countries.
- The company is targeting a $1.1 billion Pentagon fund created to build a U.S. manufacturing base for armed drones after the Trump administration banned imports from China.
- Former Bush White House ethics lawyer Richard Painter warns that Gulf states are under “enormous pressure” to buy from the president’s sons so their father will “do what they want,” calling it unprecedented presidential family war profiteering.
- Velicovich defends the venture as necessary for U.S. competitiveness in an arms race with Chinese and Russian drone makers and says it “transcends politics.”
📊 Relevant Data
In the UAE, expatriates account for approximately 88.5% of the population as of 2026, making up about 10.24 million residents out of a total population of around 11.57 million.
United Arab Emirates (UAE) Population Statistics 2026 | GMI — Global Media Insight
In mid-2022, the percentage of non-nationals (expatriates) in GCC countries ranged from 39% in Saudi Arabia to 88% in Qatar, with an overall GCC foreign population of around 30 million out of a total of about 60 million.
GCC: Total population and percentage of nationals and non-nationals in GCC countries (national statistics, mid-2022) — Gulf Migration
China controls approximately 80-90% of the global commercial drone market as of 2023-2025, dominating consumer and professional segments, while the US lags in production capacity for critical components.
The Drone Supply Chain War: Identifying the Chokepoints to Making a Drone — Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
The US approved $16.5 billion in arms sales to Gulf states like the UAE and Kuwait in March 2026, including drones and missiles, amid escalating Iran tensions.
US approves $16.5bn arms deal to Gulf states amid rising Iran tensions — Al Jazeera
Expatriates in Gulf states face heightened vulnerabilities during conflicts, with millions of migrant workers experiencing insecurity, displacement risks, and limited protections, as seen in recent escalations where tens of thousands were stranded due to airspace closures.
What does it mean for expats when the Gulf’s safest cities come under direct fire? — Crown World Mobility
Iran has conducted multiple drone and missile attacks on Gulf states in early 2026, including strikes on UAE capital Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia's Prince Sultan air base injuring US troops, and targets in Kuwait, resulting in civilian and military casualties.
Videos, images show Iran's drone army puncturing U.S. defenses — NBC News
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