Trump Says He Was Unaware of $500 Million Abu Dhabi Deal Linked to World Liberty Financial

Highlights:

• Trump said he did not know about the reported $500 million investment linked to World Liberty Financial.
• The reported deal shows a UAE-backed firm moving to take a 49% stake through a staged payment structure.
• US regulators said the company’s bank charter review would continue without special treatment.

Donald Trump said he did not know a reported $500 million investment involving World Liberty Financial when reporters questioned him on Monday. He said his sons managed the business and investment activity linked to the crypto platform. Trump added that his family handled outside funding independently, while he focused on presidential duties. He did not address the size or structure of the reported transaction. He also did not dispute that the deal took place.

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❌ Trump Says He Was Unaware of $500M UAE Investment in World Liberty Financial

Donald Trump said he was unaware of a reported investment by an Abu Dhabi royal into the #crypto #platform World Liberty Financial. #crypto pic.twitter.com/IlkirMU9IR

— CryptOpus (@ImCryptOpus) February 3, 2026

The comments followed reporting that linked the investment to a foreign-backed entity. According to Trump, his role in World Liberty Financial does not include fundraising or investor engagement. He said his sons oversee those responsibilities. He also said the platform receives investments from different parties. The White House did not issue a separate statement after his remarks.

World Liberty Financial lists Trump and his sons Donald Jr., Eric, and Barron among nine founders. However, Trump said he does not take part in daily management. He said he remains removed from business operations connected to the platform. His response came as public attention increased around the company’s ownership. That scrutiny intensified due to the timing of the reported transaction.

Inside World Liberty Financial And Its Reported Ownership Deal

The Wall Street Journal reported that Aryam Investment 1 agreed to acquire a 49% stake in World Liberty Financial for $500 million. According to the report, Aryam Investment 1 is backed by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a senior member of the Abu Dhabi royal family. The Journal cited internal company documents and people familiar with the matter. It said the agreement was reached four days before Trump’s inauguration.

An Abu Dhabi royal backed a secret $500 million investment in Trump’s crypto company. Months later, U.A.E. won access to tightly guarded American AI chips. https://t.co/7jVpCE1KK7

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) February 1, 2026

The report stated that the first installment totaled $250 million. Of that amount, $187 million reportedly went to entities linked to the Trump family. Another $31 million went to an entity tied to co-founders Zak Folkman and Chase Herro. If completed as described, the transaction would make Aryam the largest shareholder. As a result, the ownership structure drew attention from lawmakers and commentators.

Sheikh Tahnoon maintains close diplomatic ties with Washington. He also serves as chairman of Group 42, an Abu Dhabi-based artificial intelligence company. In December, US regulators approved Group 42 to purchase advanced semiconductor chips. Those approvals covered products from Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices. The regulatory clearance added context to the reported investment.

Political Signals Surround the Investment Report

The reported stake sale placed World Liberty Financial under increased regulatory attention. The disclosure surfaced while the company sought approval for a US bank charter. As a result, lawmakers focused on ownership structure and governance timing. The scrutiny followed publication of internal deal details. The attention centered on foreign capital exposure rather than platform operations.

Following the report, scrutiny increased around World Liberty Financial’s regulatory ambitions. In January, Senator Elizabeth Warren urged banking regulators to pause review of the company’s bank charter application. She asked officials to delay consideration until Trump divests his interest. Her request focused on governance concerns tied to political exposure.

However, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency rejected the request. Regulators said the application would undergo the same review process as any other submission. They also said political or personal financial ties would not affect the assessment. As a result, the review process continued under existing procedures.

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