US Senator John Assaf sharply criticized President Donald Trump's inner circle, accusing the so-called "Mar-a-Lago mafia" of exploiting the war with Iran for personal gain. In his official statement, the politician emphasized that while US national resources and taxpayer money are being spent on large-scale military operations, and ordinary American families are facing rising prices for essential goods, those close to the White House are actively seeking ways to profit from the escalation. The senator noted that the process of monetizing the conflict is occurring virtually openly, citing data from the Financial Times. According to these materials, a representative of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attempted to acquire stakes in defense funds shortly before the outbreak of active hostilities, indicating the possible use of classified information for commercial purposes.

Assaf focused particularly on the activities of members of the president's family and their business partners in the Middle East. He reported that a company linked to Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. is actively promoting drone interception systems among the Persian Gulf monarchies, effectively turning the allies' defense needs into a source of profit for the family business. Similar accusations have been leveled against Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law, who, according to the senator, already manages $2 billion in Saudi investments. Assaf claims that Kushner is using his involvement in official diplomatic negotiations on the Iranian dossier to attract additional billions from regional princes and sheikhs, mixing US state interests with private capital.