Money Grab/Give government contracts to family and donors
Trump’s sons’ drone firm wins an Air Force contract after pitching Gulf states
Powerus, a Florida drone-interceptor maker, added Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. to its board when it went public in March 2026. It is demonstrating its interceptors to Gulf governments that face Iranian attacks and rely on U.S. military support directed by the president. On April 30, 2026, it announced its first Defense Department contract.
What happened
Powerus, a West Palm Beach company founded about a year earlier by Army special operations veterans, makes drones for farming and firefighting and has pivoted to military interceptors. In March 2026 it went public through a merger with a golf company backed by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump. The brothers joined its board and, the Associated Press reported, stood to gain sizable equity stakes.
On April 2, 2026, co-founder Brett Velicovich, a former Delta Force operator, told the AP the company was running interceptor demonstrations in several Gulf countries facing Iranian attacks. He would not name them. Those governments depend on U.S. military support directed by the president. Former White House ethics lawyer Richard Painter said they were under enormous pressure to buy from the president’s sons.
On April 30, 2026, Powerus announced its first Defense Department contract, with the Air Force, for an undisclosed number of interceptor drones at an undisclosed price. Velicovich said the award was based on merit. Breaking Defense reported on October 1, 2026 that the Air Force contract for its Guardian-2 interceptor has a ceiling of up to $90 million if all options are executed; a ceiling is the most the Air Force may order, not money committed. Senator Warren has asked Defense Secretary Hegseth for the contract’s value and whether it was competed.
Who benefited
Powerus and its board members, including the president’s two eldest sons, gained a Pentagon customer. The brothers’ equity stakes also gained a sales pitch backed by proximity to the commander in chief.
Who wanted something
The Gulf governments being pitched are under Iranian attack and rely on U.S. military protection the president directs. Ethics experts cited by the AP say such a government would feel pressure to buy from the president’s family to stay in his favor.
Who lost out
If the Air Force contract was awarded on anything other than merit, you lost out; neither its value nor whether it was competed has been disclosed. Any competitor bidding for the same Gulf or Pentagon business against a company the president’s sons help run lost out too.
Why it matters
Foreign governments that need U.S. military help in an active war are being asked to buy weapons from a company the president’s sons help run. The same company now has a contract with the Defense Department, which the president heads. The April 30 announcement gave no price, and the only figure reported since is a $90 million ceiling.
Sources Associated Press (via PBS NewsHour)Associated Press (via WTOP)Sen. Elizabeth Warren (primary)The Daily BeastABC NewsAccessNewswire (Powerus release) (primary)