URL: https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/03/10/trumps-sons-invest-in-companies-vying-to-fill-gaps-in-us-drone-industry/
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Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. are moving decisively into America’s drone frontier, backing a fresh merger that aims to put autonomous aircraft in the hands of the U.S. military more quickly.

This is more than a financial stake; it is a strategic push to expand domestic manufacturing and reduce reliance on foreign technology.

Eric and Don Jr. are named “notable investors” as Aureus Greenway Holdings merges with Powerus Corporation, a move the Trump camp says will speed American drone manufacturing. “We’re huge fans of our backers,” said Brett Velicovich, a co-founder of Powerus.

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“Eric and Don Jr. have been just fantastic supporters behind the scenes. They see the need for us to build drone technology at scale.” Those words frame a broader sense of urgency that has become central to the debate over national defense and industrial policy.

The merger signals a deliberate attempt to build a manufacturing strategy and acquire other drone technology firms, Velicovich noted.

The partnership is designed to leverage the Trump family’s public profile and private capital to accelerate development in a sector many officials describe as critical to future conflict environments.

This is not merely a business deal; it is a statement about where America intends to invest its defense resources.

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The new venture comes as the Pentagon faces hard questions about countering adversaries who deploy inexpensive, effective drones. The merger was a “compelling opportunity” made “even more relevant by current geopolitical uncertainties,” Aureus Greenway’s interim chief executive Matthew Saker said in a statement.

The timing underscores a growing belief across Washington and allied capitals that autonomous technologies will shape future battles.

“The need for and uses of autonomous technologies, such as those produced by Powerus, are front page news given developments in the Middle East and elsewhere,” Velicovich added. His comments reflect a broader concern that current defenses must evolve to deal with evolving threats, including low-cost, high-impact drones used by Iran and its proxies.

There is also a candid assessment of where gaps remain. Velicovich, who spent significant time in Ukraine, warns that the United States can start with robust plans but still face real-world challenges.

“We’re learning we have a lot of gaps in our air defenses, and right now there is a race at high levels to fix it, to pour money into it,” he said.

He adds a sobering caution for U.S. forces: “I worry that soldiers have a false sense of security, tactically, to what is out there, and that makes me very nervous. We need to get the right tools in their hands.”

The perspective of bringing Ukrainian innovations into the American fold is clear. Velicovich said, “There are a number of engagements at senior levels of the Pentagon where they’re trying to find ways to formally bring in Ukranian technology and get it in the hands of soldiers.”

He framed Powerus as a conduit for connecting those dots and giving the Department of War an American face to the effort.

The public side of the deal has also seen social media light up. Eric Trump shared the article Monday on X with the comment, “I happen to believe drones will be a much better investment than companies that still print newspapers.”

This kind of message is designed to resonate with Americans who see defense dollars as an investment in national security and jobs.

The economic logic behind the move is reinforced by other Trump-aligned defense efforts. Eric Trump invested in another defense technology company February 17, according to PitchBook, which tracks private capital markets. The company, Xtend, developed an AI-driven operating system that enables drones “to execute complex, dynamic missions with immediate operational readiness.”

In a release, Xtend described the investment in similar terms.

“The demand for systems that keep operators out of harm’s way is surging as the global security environment grows more volatile, and this represents one of the largest market opportunities in defense technology today,” Xtend CEO and co-founder Aviv Shapira said in a statement.

Supporters argue that this approach is consistent with a prudent, aggressive posture toward American technology and manufacturing. They contend that bringing Ukrainian innovations into an American framework helps ensure that technology serves U.S. troops and allies first.

The overarching aim, they say, is to ensure the Department of War has reliable, homegrown sources of critical capabilities to deter and defeat threats.

As this venture progresses, observers will watch closely how these private investments translate into public capacity. The hope among supporters is that a stronger, domestically anchored drone sector can shorten supply lines, speed fieldable solutions, and reduce vulnerability to embargoes or foreign restrictions.

They argue that a robust, American-led drone industry aligns with a renewed emphasis on national sovereignty and a stronger posture against adversaries who threaten regional stability.

The conversation about drones is no longer solely technical; it has become a defining test of national strategy. Proponents argue that combining private capital with public goals can yield a faster, more resilient defense ecosystem.

At the same time, critics remind policymakers that innovation must be paired with accountability, transparency, and robust safeguards.

Yet for Trump supporters and their allies in the defense community, the message is clear: America must built its own capabilities, and the family’s investment signals a broader commitment to ensuring the United States leads in next generation defense technology.

In this vision, the drone revolution is not just about speed or cost; it is about securing a future where American excellence remains unquestioned.

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