Donald Trump's offspring put money into firm that manufactures unmanned military aircraft

Donald Trump's sons, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., are investing in a new business venture that produces autonomous drones, including defense systems, which raises conflict-of-interest questions as their father, the US president, oversees military operations in Iran.

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The merger of autonomous drone company Powerus and Aureus Greenway Holdings Inc., a publicly-traded company that manages golf courses in Florida, has the Trump sons listed as "notable investors" in an Auerus press release issued on Monday.

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The combined company, to be named Powerus, specializes in building autonomous drones for military and commercial use in high-risk environments, with the Middle East war cited as evidence of the project's viability in a press release.

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Matthew Saker, interim chief executive of AGH, noted that "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," highlighting the relevance of the business combination amid current geopolitical uncertainties.

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The US, under Trump's leadership, launched military strikes on Iran in February, resulting in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and Israel also participated in the strikes.

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Jordan Libowitz, vice president for the NGO Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, described the Powerus venture as "eyebrow-raising in an administration full of eye-brow raising conflicts of interests," raising concerns about the potential financial gain for the Trump family.

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Libowitz stated that "this comes at a time when there is a reported great need for the number of drones due to war started in part by (Trump), which will last as long as the president wants it to," and added that "it raises some concerns that the president has committed America to a war that may be making money for his own family."

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Donald Trump Jr. has previously invested in another drone startup, Unusual Machines, which is listed as a supporter of the Powerus ventures in the AGH press release.

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Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics (CREW) has issued several reports accusing the Trump administration of conflict of interest, including the intersection of the Trump family's cryptocurrency ventures and the White House's promotion of digital currencies.