Powerus, a drone company with backing from President Donald Trump's sons, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., has been actively pitching advanced defense systems to officials in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. This outreach comes as the UAE seeks to bolster its defenses against potential attacks from Iran. Powerus is one of several drone firms that have been making sales pitches and conducting demonstrations across the Gulf region, capitalizing on heightened demand for defense products amidst the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran.
Separately, the West Palm Beach-based Powerus secured a deal with the US Air Force to supply an undisclosed number of interceptor drones. This contract follows a demonstration at a facility in Arizona and further solidifies the company's ties to the military, especially as the US war with Iran entered its third month. Co-founder and president of Powerus, Brett Velicovich, confirmed the deal, emphasizing the company's determination to help the U.S. compete with Chinese and Russian drone manufacturers.
The involvement of the Trump sons in Powerus has drawn scrutiny, with ethics lawyers raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest, especially given President Trump's role in initiating military actions that have increased the demand for such defense systems. Richard Painter, a former chief White House ethics lawyer, suggested that Gulf countries might feel pressured to buy from the Trump sons' company to secure favorable treatment from the US president. Despite these concerns, Powerus maintains that there are no conflicts of interest, with Eric Trump stating his pride in investing in companies he believes in, particularly in the drone sector. Powerus, founded about a year ago by U.S. Army Special Operations veterans, initially developed drones for commercial uses but is rapidly expanding into military applications. The company recently raised $60 million from investors and plans to go public through a reverse merger with a Nasdaq-listed Trump company.
The sales drive by Powerus in the Gulf region is occurring at a time when regional tensions are high due to the US-Israel conflict with Iran, which President Trump initiated over a month ago. These heightened tensions have created a significant demand for advanced defense systems, which Powerus aims to fulfill with its defensive drone interceptors. Powerus co-founder Brett Velicovich confirmed that the company is conducting multiple demonstrations across the Middle East for its interceptors, highlighting their advanced technology and potential to save lives.
