As the US-Israel-led war on Iran progresses, leaving the Middle East region tense despite US assurances of security, and as Iran’s volleys of ammunition hang in the skies above the region, those looking to yield profits from the war are the sons of Donald Trump, whose eldest sons are trying to sell defensive drone interceptors to Gulf countries.
Florida-based drone manufacturer Powerus, which recently brought Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. on board with prospective equity stakes, intensified its sales push across Gulf capitals, where demonstrations of defensive interceptor drones are reportedly being conducted.
The company’s co-founder, Brett Velicovich, confirmed that teams were touring multiple Middle Eastern countries, staging technical displays intended to illustrate how the interceptors could neutralise incoming aerial threats, though he declined to identify specific destinations.
Critics have argued that the arrangement blurs ethical boundaries, since the potential financial gains for the president’s family coincide with a military confrontation initiated under his administration, and legal observers warn that Gulf states reliant on US protection could feel compelled to favour firms linked to the US.
The concerns have intensified because the Trump brothers’ involvement could translate into substantial ownership stakes, thereby tying personal wealth accumulation to a conflict begun by their father
Powerus, however, has rejected allegations of impropriety, insisting that its objective is to strengthen American manufacturing capacity in an increasingly competitive drone market dominated by Chinese and Russian suppliers.
Company executives have portrayed the initiative as part of a broader technological race, arguing that rapid development of counter-drone systems is essential if the United States is to maintain strategic parity in an era of proliferating unmanned warfare.
The venture also aligns with a Pentagon programme allocating $1.1bn to expand US-based armed-drone manufacturing after imports from China were restricted, thereby creating a lucrative policy environment into which politically connected investors could step.
Meanwhile, the Trump brothers have broadened their commercial portfolios beyond traditional real-estate holdings, moving into sectors ranging from cryptocurrency to defence contracting, and signalling that, unlike during their father’s first presidency, they intend to pursue business opportunities more aggressively.