The family business · 2024 campaign · № 44
Firm backed by UAE's Sheikh Tahnoon agrees to buy 49% of World Liberty Financial for $500 million
“Neither President Trump nor Steve Witkoff had any involvement whatsoever in this transaction and have had no involvement in World Liberty Financial since taking office” David Wachsman, World Liberty Financial spokesperson
- Date
- , Reported by The Wall Street Journal on January 31, 2026; statement to CNN
- Subject
- United Arab Emirates
- Benefit
- Crypto
- Government
- United Arab Emirates
- Beneficiary
- World Liberty Financial and Trump family entities
- Amount
- $500 million
- Topic
- Ethics & conflicts
- Era
- 2024 campaign
What happened
The Wall Street Journal reported on January 31, 2026 that Aryam Investment, a company backed by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE's national security adviser and manager of its largest wealth fund, took a 49% stake in World Liberty Financial for $500 million in a deal signed by Eric Trump four days before Trump's second inauguration on January 20, 2025. According to the Journal's account as relayed by CNBC and CNN, about $187 million went to Trump family entities and at least $31 million to Witkoff family entities; CNBC later reported, citing Trump's 2025 financial disclosure, that the deal directed $263 million to Trump family entities. A World Liberty spokesperson confirmed the investment to CNN and said any claim that it was connected to the administration's actions on chips was "100% false." In May 2025 the United States agreed to allow the UAE to buy hundreds of thousands of advanced Nvidia AI chips, with a fifth going to G42, Tahnoon's AI company, CNBC reported. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said the president's assets are in a trust managed by his children and that "There are no conflicts of interest." Senator Elizabeth Warren called for the chip decision to be reversed and for officials to testify before Congress.
Sources
- United Arab Emirates' 'Spy Sheikh' bought secret stake in Trump crypto company: WSJ
- UAE-linked firm bought major stake in Trump family crypto company, Wall Street Journal reports
- UAE 'spy sheikh' takes 49% stake in Trump family crypto bank venture
- United Arab Emirates: Freedom in the World 2025 Country Report