Trump’s sons back new military drone venture tied to Pentagon work

The Trump brothers have been expanding their investment activity since their father returned to the White House.

• Trump Jr and Eric Trump invest in military drone company Powerus
• Autonomous Power to merge with Aureus Greenway Holdings
• US Department of Defense is already a client of Autonomous Power

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Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump are backing a new military drone venture that already works with the US Department of Defense, marking the latest business move by the president’s sons into sectors linked to national security and emerging technology, the Financial Times reported.

The company, Autonomous Power Corporation, builds autonomous drone systems designed for military and commercial use in difficult or high-risk environments. It plans to go public through a merger with Aureus Greenway Holdings, a Nasdaq-listed company that currently runs golf courses in Florida. If the deal goes ahead, the combined company will be renamed Powerus.

The investment from the Trump brothers will be made through a special purpose vehicle called American Venture Partners. That group is also backed by Dominari Holdings, a New York-based securities and fintech firm headquartered in Trump Tower. The size of the Trump family’s investment has not been disclosed.

Pentagon links and growing demand for drones

Autonomous Power already lists the US Department of Defense as one of its clients, highlighting how quickly drone technology has become central to modern defence strategies.

Another drone company connected to Donald Trump Jr, called Unusual Machines, secured a Pentagon contract last October to produce 3,500 drone motors and related components. Trump Jr joined that company as an adviser in 2024.

Interest in defence technology has surged in recent years as drones have become more prominent on battlefields around the world. Conflicts in places like Ukraine and the Middle East have shown how relatively inexpensive unmanned aircraft can play an outsized role in surveillance, targeting and attacks.

Shares in Unusual Machines have climbed more than 20 percent since the latest war in the Middle East began, reflecting investor enthusiasm for companies involved in military technology.

Expanding business interests

The Trump brothers have been expanding their investment activity since their father returned to the White House. In recent months, they have backed ventures in areas ranging from cryptocurrencies to technology and defence.

They are also involved in a blank-cheque investment vehicle called New America Acquisition I Corp, which has said it plans to buy a company that could benefit from government incentives or federal contracts.

The drone venture is attracting other investors as well. A Seoul-based private equity group, Korea Climate & Governance Improvement Fund, has agreed to purchase USD50 million worth of shares in the company.

A merger with an unusual partner

The company’s route to the stock market is somewhat unconventional. Instead of a traditional listing, Autonomous Power plans to merge with Aureus Greenway Holdings, which currently operates two golf clubs in Florida: Kissimmee Bay Country Club and Remington Golf Club.

News of the planned deal pushed Aureus Greenway’s shares up about 6 percent to around USD5.20.

Supporters of the venture argue that autonomous systems will play an increasingly important role in both defence and infrastructure.

Kyle Wool, president of Dominari Holdings, said drone technology is becoming critical to modern security and that the United States needs to remain competitive in the field.

With conflicts around the world accelerating demand for unmanned systems, companies building drones are quickly moving from niche startups into a rapidly expanding defence industry.