The Trump family is once again in the spotlight, as Donald Trump’s sons, Don Jr. and Eric Trump, are embroiled in accusations of corruption following their financial involvement in a drone start-up. The Wall Street Journal recently revealed that the brothers have invested in Powerus, a burgeoning Florida-based defense company. Powerus, established in 2025, is competing for a lucrative share of the Pentagon’s $1.1 billion Drone Dominance initiative. The company is also making strategic moves to merge with a publicly traded golf company, paving the way for a listing on the NASDAQ.

This development comes at a crucial time when the Pentagon is keenly focused on expanding its drone fleet, a necessity underscored by Iran’s use of Shahed drones, which cost about $25,000 each. In stark contrast, the U.S. finds itself depleting missile stockpiles with prices soaring up to $13 million per unit. The urgency of this initiative has been further amplified by President Trump’s declaration in December deeming foreign-made drones a national security threat.

The investment has not been without controversy. The Wall Street Journal’s report prompted a wave of criticism online, with Eric Trump defending the investment by suggesting that drones represent a more prudent financial move than newspapers. Outspoken critics have not held back, with left-wing commentator Ron Filipkowski expressing his disdain at the perceived personal gain from taxpayer-funded military endeavors. Similarly, liberal singer Bill Madden questioned the morality and legality of the investment.

Don Jr. purchased more than 331,000 shares of Unusual Machines, worth around $5.5 million on Monday, the Financial Times reported. Chinese-made drones, particularly from tech giant DJI , have accounted for the majority of commercial drone sales in the US for the past decade. The firm now faces a questionable future in US markets, given the administration’s latest ban on foreign-made drones. Powerus drones are capable of intelligence surveillance and target acquisition, autonomous resupply, swarm coordination and more, according to its site. They are also designed to help put out wildfires and for other civilian uses in the agriculture and oil and gas industries.

Specifically, the company touts drones that are capable of carrying up to 1,000 pounds. Drones have become central to modern warfare since their widespread use during the Ukraine war, with Russia deploying Iran’s Shaheds. The burgeoning sector has rapidly become one of most competitive in the defense industry, with Silicon Valley-backed startups such as Anduril, Shield AI and AeroVironment vying for contracts. The US this month deployed suicide drones made by Arizona’s SpektreWorks against Iran. The Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System, known as LUCAS, is modelled on Iran’s Shahed drones, US Central Command said. Don Jr. and Eric have been contacted for comment.