Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. are backing Powerus, a drone company vying to meet Pentagon demand and fill a hole left by the administration’s ban on new Chinese drones in the U.S.

Trump Sons Back New Drone Company Powerus, Formed Last Year, Aiming for Nasdaq Listing and Pentagon Sales

• Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. are backing Powerus, a new drone company, according to the WSJ report (wsj.com, 2026-03-09).
• Powerus, formed last year, is targeting a market to meet Pentagon demand and address the ban on Chinese drones, Powerus executives said (wsj.com, 2026-03-09).
• The company is set to go public via a reverse merger with a Trump-backed golf-course holding company and trade on Nasdaq in the coming months, Powerus executives stated (wsj.com, 2026-03-09).
• The Pentagon is testing portable 3D-printing labs in Hawaii that enable soldiers to design, print, and assemble drones rapidly (wsj.com, 2026-03-09).

A New Defense Player Emerges Amid Shifting Global Dynamics

TRUMP SONS—Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., the sons of the president, are reportedly providing backing for a new drone company named Powerus, which is strategically positioning itself to secure significant contracts with the Pentagon (wsj.com, 2026-03-09). This new venture aims to capitalize on the increasing demand for domestic drone solutions within the U.S. military, especially in the wake of the administration’s ban on new Chinese drones in the U.S. (wsj.com, 2026-03-09).

Powerus, described as a drone roll-up company, is based in West Palm Beach, Fla., and was formed last year (wsj.com, 2026-03-09). The company is currently moving towards a public listing on the Nasdaq stock exchange through a reverse merger, a process expected to finalize in the coming months, according to Powerus executives (wsj.com, 2026-03-09). This strategic financial maneuver is poised to transform Powerus into a publicly visible enterprise, enhancing its capacity to compete for substantial defense contracts. This is a developing story.

The New Venture: Powerus Drone Company and Trump Sons’ Backing

Origins and Leadership in West Palm Beach

Powerus, a nascent drone roll-up company, has emerged with notable backing from Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., the sons of the president (wsj.com, 2026-03-09). This Florida-based entity, specifically located in West Palm Beach, was established just last year, marking its recent entry into the competitive defense technology landscape (wsj.com, 2026-03-09). The involvement of high-profile figures such as the Trumps signifies a strategic alignment aimed at securing a prominent position within the U.S. drone industry.

As a ‘drone roll-up company,’ Powerus is structured to consolidate and expand its capabilities within the sector, according to statements from Powerus executives (wsj.com, 2026-03-09). This business model suggests an intent to acquire or merge with other drone-related businesses, thereby building a comprehensive portfolio of drone technology and services. The strategic decision to base the company in West Palm Beach, Fla., further solidifies its operational hub as it prepares to engage with the federal procurement processes.

The backing provided by Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. is a critical element in Powerus’s strategy, designed to bolster its profile and enhance its ability to navigate the intricacies of securing government contracts (wsj.com, 2026-03-09). The company’s formation last year indicates a rapid development timeline, moving quickly to capitalize on current market opportunities. This swift establishment positions Powerus as a dynamic new entrant, poised to make significant strides in meeting national security demands.

The leadership’s vision for Powerus extends to addressing specific governmental requirements, particularly those articulated by the Pentagon. The establishment of Powerus, under this influential backing, sets the stage for its ambitious plans to become a key supplier of drone technology, a goal affirmed by Powerus executives (wsj.com, 2026-03-09). The blend of its recent formation, strategic location, and high-profile support underscores Powerus’s intent to become a major player in the domestic drone market.

Targeting a Critical Market: Pentagon Demand

The Gap in U.S. Drone Supply Amid Ban on Chinese Drones

Powerus, the new drone company backed by Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., is specifically vying to meet a significant and fresh demand from the Pentagon (wsj.com, 2026-03-09). This intensified demand in the U.S. defense sector is a direct consequence of the administration’s ban on new Chinese drones, which has created a critical void in the supply chain for unmanned aerial systems (wsj.com, 2026-03-09). Powerus aims to strategically fill this crucial hole, offering domestically sourced drone technology to the U.S. military.

The ban on Chinese drones has compelled the Pentagon to seek out alternative, secure, and reliable sources for its drone fleet. This policy decision has effectively reshaped the market, creating a substantial opportunity for U.S.-based companies capable of delivering advanced drone solutions. Powerus’s entry into this market is directly aligned with national security objectives, emphasizing the need to reduce reliance on foreign technology and enhance the resilience and autonomy of the U.S. military’s drone capabilities (wsj.com, 2026-03-09).

The company’s focus on this specific market segment highlights a clear understanding of current geopolitical and defense procurement priorities. Powerus executives have conveyed that the company’s mission is to capitalize on this urgent governmental need, presenting itself as a viable and dependable domestic option for the Pentagon (wsj.com, 2026-03-09). This targeted approach allows Powerus to position its offerings directly against a clearly defined market deficiency, promising to deliver critical components to the nation’s defense infrastructure.

The involvement of the president’s sons in backing Powerus further underscores the perceived importance of addressing this national security requirement. Their support lends a heightened profile to the company’s efforts to become a key supplier to the U.S. military, particularly in an area deemed critical for operational readiness and technological superiority. By aiming to meet the fresh demand, Powerus is stepping into a role that has become increasingly vital for the ongoing modernization and security of the United States’ defense capabilities (wsj.com, 2026-03-09).

Pathway to Public Trading: The Reverse Merger

From Private Entity to Nasdaq Listing via Strategic Merger

Powerus is poised to become a publicly traded entity through a strategic maneuver known as a reverse merger, as confirmed by Powerus executives (wsj.com, 2026-03-09). This process involves the drone roll-up company merging with an existing publicly traded golf-course holding company. Significantly, this golf-course holding company also receives backing from the Trumps, creating a synergistic pathway for Powerus to access public markets (wsj.com, 2026-03-09).

The reverse merger mechanism will culminate in Powerus, which was formed last year, trading independently on the Nasdaq stock exchange (wsj.com, 2026-03-09). This transition from a private enterprise to a publicly listed company is a pivotal step for Powerus, expected to provide it with broader access to capital markets. Such access is crucial for funding expansion, research and development, and the fulfillment of potentially large-scale defense contracts from the Pentagon.

Powerus executives anticipate that this financial maneuver will conclude and result in the company’s Nasdaq listing within the coming months (wsj.com, 2026-03-09). The decision to pursue a reverse merger with an already publicly traded entity, particularly one supported by the Trumps, streamlines the process compared to a traditional initial public offering (IPO). This method allows Powerus to quickly gain public visibility and attract investment, accelerating its growth trajectory in the defense drone sector.

The forthcoming Nasdaq listing represents a significant milestone for Powerus, signaling its readiness to operate under increased scrutiny and transparency requirements associated with public companies. This move not only enhances its financial standing but also its credibility and visibility within the defense industry, which can be critical for securing governmental contracts. The merger with a Trump-backed golf-course holding company creates a direct link to established public market presence, facilitating Powerus’s rapid emergence as a publicly traded drone technology provider, as explained by company executives (wsj.com, 2026-03-09).

What are the Pentagon’s Emerging Drone Capabilities?

On-Demand Drone Production and Rapid Assembly in the Field

In parallel with the drive for robust domestic drone solutions, the Pentagon is actively exploring and testing advanced manufacturing capabilities for unmanned aerial systems (wsj.com, 2026-03-09). A prime example of this innovation is the evaluation of portable 3D-printing labs currently underway in Hawaii. These state-of-the-art labs provide soldiers with the groundbreaking ability to design, print, and then assemble drones with remarkable speed, often completing the entire process within a matter of hours (wsj.com, 2026-03-09).

The Wall Street Journal gained firsthand insight into these innovative systems, having visited Oahu in December 2025 specifically to learn more about these capabilities. The visit underscores the military’s strategic push towards agile, on-demand drone production, highlighting a significant shift in how defense forces anticipate and respond to operational needs (wsj.com, 2026-03-09). The capacity for soldiers to independently produce drones in the field represents a transformative approach to logistics and deployment, reducing reliance on traditional supply chains.

These portable 3D-printing labs illustrate the evolving landscape of military technology, where speed, adaptability, and localized manufacturing are becoming increasingly critical for operational success. The ability to design and produce custom drones within hours empowers military personnel with unprecedented flexibility to tailor their aerial assets to specific mission requirements and rapidly replace losses. This development is part of a broader trend within the Pentagon to leverage advanced manufacturing techniques to enhance responsiveness and self-sufficiency in various theaters of operation (wsj.com, 2026-03-09).

While Powerus aims to supply drones to the Pentagon, these internal manufacturing initiatives demonstrate the breadth of the Pentagon’s evolving needs and its commitment to integrating cutting-edge technologies. The emphasis on rapid, in-situ drone creation by soldiers complements the overall demand for robust, domestically sourced drone fleets, creating a dynamic market that Powerus is actively targeting. The ongoing tests in Hawaii, observed by the WSJ, serve as a concrete example of the innovative environment Powerus is entering (wsj.com, 2026-03-09).