President Donald Trump has said he knows “nothing” about World Liberty Financial, the crypto company co-owned by a Trump family entity, as scrutiny grows over its ties to a UAE-backed investor.
Trump made the comments in a post-midterm interview with columnist Ross Douthat, according to a transcript published by CBS News. Asked how his co-ownership of the company differed from past arrangements involving other presidents’ families, he said: “Because I know nothing about it.”
Trump defends his sons’ role
Trump said his sons run the family business, and that it would be unfair to ask them to stop. “It’s hard to say to them, ‘Don’t do anything anymore for four years because I’m president,'” he said.
Asked whether foreign investors could be seeking influence through the company, he said: “I don’t know.”
He also said presidents have faced conflicts of interest “going back to George Washington,” adding: “I’m a bigger name than other presidents, whether we like it or not.”
The UAE stake
Aryam Investment, a UAE-backed firm linked to the country’s national security adviser, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, agreed to buy a 49% stake for $500 million four days before Trump’s inauguration in January 2025, The Wall Street Journal has reported. Eric Trump signed the deal on World Liberty’s behalf.
A World Liberty spokesperson said neither Trump nor Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff had “any involvement whatsoever.”
Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy described the arrangement in February as “potentially criminal conduct.” No charges have been brought.
Who owns what
According to company disclosures, DT Marks DEFI LLC, an entity affiliated with Trump and members of his family, owns about 38% of World Liberty’s holding company and holds 22.5 billion WLFI tokens. It is entitled to 75% of the net proceeds from WLFI token sales. A separate Trump-affiliated entity has an indirect claim on interest earned on the reserves backing World Liberty’s USD1 stablecoin.
The disclosures say no Trump family member is an officer, director or employee of the company, though Trump’s sons remain involved in the business.
Eric Trump announced World Liberty in August 2024. Alongside the WLFI token and USD1, it launched a lending platform called World Liberty Markets in January.
The Justin Sun dispute
The UAE link is also at the centre of a legal fight with Tron founder Justin Sun, one of World Liberty’s largest investors. Sun’s lawyers have asked a federal court to sanction the company, alleging it was late to disclose UAE ownership that could affect which court hears his lawsuit. World Liberty has called Sun’s campaign a “meritless PR stunt.” The claims on both sides are unproven.
What happens next
With Democrats taking control of Congress in January, World Liberty’s ownership and foreign investment are likely to face closer scrutiny, including in the debate over conflict of interest rules in crypto legislation.
