Iran war: Trump’s sons invest in a drone firm. It wins an Air Force deal

Description

Nine days into the Iran war, President Trump’s sons were named as investors in a drone company. Four months later, the Air Force gave that company a contract worth up to $90 million.

The company is Powerus. Its merger announcement, filed with the SEC on March 9, named Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. among its investors.

In October, Powerus announced another government order, worth $82 million. It also announced a $22.3 million deal to spot drones heading for oil and gas sites in the Middle East. On November 5, it told investors its signed orders and contracts are worth $130 million.

A securities filing lists the investment firm that ties the brothers to Powerus as owning 9.9% of the company.

Spokespeople for the brothers told Reuters they are passive investors with no role in running the company. Powerus co-founder Brett Velicovich told the Associated Press, “There’s no conflict there.” Nothing shows President Trump steered the contracts.

Iran answered their father’s war by firing drones across the Gulf. The company the brothers invest in sells protection from drones.

Transcript

Nine days into the war with Iran, President Trump’s sons, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., were named as investors in a drone company called Powerus. Four months later, the Air Force gave Powerus a contract worth up to $90 million.

In October, Powerus announced another government order, this one worth $82 million. Powerus also announced a $22.3 million deal to spot drones heading for oil and gas sites in the Middle East. On Nov. 5, Powerus told investors its signed orders and contracts are worth $130 million.

A filing lists the investment firm that ties the brothers to Powerus as owning 9.9% of the company.

Spokespeople for the brothers told Reuters they are passive investors, with no role in running the company. Powerus co-founder Brett Velicovich told the AP, “There’s no conflict there.” Nothing shows President Trump steered the contracts, or that his sons have made money from Powerus yet.

Iran answered their father’s war by firing drones across the Gulf. The company the brothers invest in sells protection from drones.

Sources and credits

Aureus Greenway Holdings (now Powerus), merger announcement naming Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. as investors, March 9, 2026, filed as Form 8-K, Exhibit 99.1. sec.gov
Powerus, release on the Air Force contract and other contracts, Aug. 13, 2026, Form 8-K, Exhibit 99.1. sec.gov
Powerus via Barchart, Powerus unit secures US Air Force IDIQ contract worth up to $90 million, August 2026. barchart.com
Inside Unmanned Systems, Powerus subsidiary wins up to $90 million Air Force IDIQ for Group 1 aerial denial, August 2026. insideunmannedsystems.com
Powerus, release on completing the merger, listing the Air Force contract and the counter-drone factory in the UAE, Oct. 1, 2026, Form 8-K, Exhibit 99.1. sec.gov
Powerus, Form 8-K reporting $130 million in executed purchase orders and contracts, Nov. 5, 2026. sec.gov
Aureus Greenway Holdings (now Powerus), final prospectus, Form 424(b)(3), listing American Ventures at 9.9%, Sept. 8, 2026. sec.gov
The Associated Press via KSAT, new drone maker partly owned by Trump’s sons hopes to win Pentagon contracts, March 11, 2026. ksat.com
The Associated Press via KSAT, company backed by Trump’s sons looks to sell drone interceptors to Gulf states being attacked by Iran, April 2, 2026. ksat.com
Powerus via Business Wire, “Powerus (Nasdaq: PUSA) Awarded $82 Million Order for Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems,” Oct. 5, 2026. businesswire.com
Powerus via GlobeNewswire, “Powerus Secures $22.3 Million Commercial Contract to Protect U.S. Oil Interests and Critical Energy Infrastructure in the Middle East,” Aug. 20, 2026. globenewswire.com
Reuters via WHBL, “Drone startup tied to Trump sons aims to bring Ukrainian tech to US,” Sept. 30, 2026. whbl.com
Powerus Corp, Form S-3 registration statement, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Oct. 19, 2026. sec.gov
USAspending.gov, “Commercial Solutions for Group 1 Aerial Denial UAS Platforms,” Air Force contract FA862926DB006 to Tandem Defense LLC, July 20, 2026. usaspending.gov

Picture credits

Eric Trump: “Consensus 2025 – Eric Trump 10” by Xuthoria, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped.
Donald Trump Jr.: “Donald Trump, Jr. (55021618832) (cropped 2)” by Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped.
Powerus filings: US Securities and Exchange Commission EDGAR, shown as quoted excerpts.
A US counter-drone launcher in a training exercise, Bahrain, Jan. 26, 2026: U.S. Navy video by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Lindsay Lair, via DVIDS (public domain). dvidshub.net
Oil tanks, Fujairah, UAE: “Oil tanks, Fujairah Port” by Jpbowen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped.
President Trump at a Cabinet meeting, May 27, 2026: frame from a White House video (public domain). Wikimedia Commons
US air defense in the Gulf, April 2, 2026: U.S. Army photo via DVIDS (public domain). Wikimedia Commons

The appearance of U.S. Department of War (DoW) visual information does not imply or constitute DoW endorsement.