Warren Demands Hearings Over $500M UAE Stake in Trump Crypto Project
Senator Warren alleges “corruption” after reports reveal the UAE’s intelligence chief bought a 49% stake in Trump’s crypto venture days before securing AI chip export approvals.
Senator Elizabeth Warren called for immediate congressional hearings Sunday following reports that a top UAE intelligence official secretly purchased a 49% stake in World Liberty Financial just days before President Trump’s inauguration.
The statement from the Senate Banking Committee member describes the transaction as “corruption, plain and simple,” explicitly linking the $500 million cash injection to the administration’s subsequent approval of sensitive AI chip exports to the Emirates.
World Liberty Financial’s governance token (WLFI) reacted sharply, dropping 16% to $0.12 as the market digested the geopolitical risk.
The $500 Million Receipt
According to reporting by the Wall Street Journal, the deal was executed by Aryam Investment 1, a vehicle controlled by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Known as the “Spy Sheikh,” Tahnoon serves as the UAE’s national security adviser and oversees the $1.3 trillion sovereign wealth empire.
The terms outlined in the report are specific:
- Purchase Price: $500 million for 49% equity.
- Direct Payout: $187 million funneled immediately to Trump family entities.
- Intermediaries: At least $31 million allocated to entities tied to Steve Witkoff, a Trump ally and Special Envoy to the Middle East.
The agreement was reportedly signed by Eric Trump in January 2025, mere days before his father took the oath of office.
The Chip Export Pivot
Warren’s demand for testimony centers on the quid pro quo implication. Under the Biden administration, Sheikh Tahnoon’s companies, specifically AI firm G42, faced blockades on acquiring advanced Nvidia chips due to concerns over technology leakage to China.
Following the World Liberty Financial investment, the Trump administration reversed this stance. The White House approved a framework allowing the UAE to import hundreds of thousands of restricted AI chips annually, a critical resource for Tahnoon’s data center ambitions.
“The evidence suggests that Donald Trump and his family sold out American national security in order to benefit the President’s crypto company.”
Market Impact
The disclosure forced a repricing of World Liberty Financial’s token. WLFI failed to hold support at $0.14, sliding to $0.12 (-16%) on heavy volume. The token, which functions as a non-transferable governance instrument in some jurisdictions but trades freely in others, has now erased nearly a month of gains.
Warren has requested that the State and Commerce Departments provide all communications regarding the chip export licenses by February 14.
