The New York Times: “U.A.E. Firm Quietly Took Stake in the Trump Family’s Crypto Company”
Donald Trump’s cryptocurrency firm, World Liberty Financial, secretly sold a $500 million 49% stake to an Abu Dhabi royal, just four days before Trump’s second inauguration.
The deal directed $187 million to Trump family entities and at least $31 million to the family of Steve Witkoff, a World Liberty co-founder whom Trump had named as U.S. envoy to the Middle East weeks earlier.
John, this is a blatant, disgraceful conflict of interest and possible violation of the Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause, which is meant to prevent foreign governments—including royalty—from gaining unfair advantages by paying the president.
It’s also the only known case of a foreign government official purchasing a major stake in a Trump company after his election.
While this deal is unprecedented, it’s far from the first example of the president blurring the lines between the presidency and his businesses. Now, Americans are forced to question whether the Trump administration's policies toward the UAE serve the public and U.S. workers, or a foreign government boosting the president’s bottom line.
CREW is working to shine a light on Trump’s conflicts of interest and his profiteering. We’re determined to hold the president accountable and ensure he’s working in the best interests of the American people, not his bottom line. If you’re with us, donate today to help power our efforts →
Since the start of his second term, Trump’s conflicts have only expanded—especially with his family’s new crypto ventures.
A Financial Times investigation found that Donald Trump and his family’s crypto businesses reaped more than $1 billion in pre-tax profits over the past year, in part due to the boom fueled by the administration’s industry-friendly policies.
The Trump administration has pushed favorable policies for crypto: pulling back on enforcement against crypto companies, dropping cases against crypto platforms and establishing the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and United States Digital Asset Stockpile.
Now, these new reports indicate that the Trump family is directly profiting from a deal with a foreign government official, followed by that foreign government getting access to American AI chips. That comes with real national security risks.
Meanwhile, that very same Trump family crypto company is applying for a banking license from the Trump administration’s Treasury Department.
John, the conflicts of interest and opportunities for corruption are mind-boggling. I spend my days tracking all of this, and even I find it overwhelming. That’s why we’re keeping a meticulous record of these stories and calling out the most egregious instances and the harms they pose to Americans.
CREW is working to expose Trump’s profiteering and ensure the president serves the people he represents, not personal profit. Help us keep up our work and join us in the fight for an accountable and ethical government by donating today →
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Thanks,
Robert Maguire
VP for Research and Data
CREW
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