UAE Royal Investment in Trump Crypto Firm Preceded Major AI Chip Deal

In early 2025, associates of Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan secured a 49% stake in World Liberty Financial, a venture founded by the Trump family and relatives of Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. Documents reviewed by the Wall Street Journal indicate the deal directed $187 million to Trump-linked entities and at least $31 million to those affiliated with the Witkoff family.

Shortly after this transaction, Sheikh Tahnoon met with Donald Trump at the White House to discuss AI technology. Within two months, the administration authorized the export of 500,000 advanced AI chips annually to the UAE—a move that enables the construction of massive data center clusters. Critics and political observers have labeled the timing of these events a blatant pay-to-play scheme. Former Representative Tom Malinowski suggested that if these payments are classified as corruption by a future administration, those involved could face sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act, potentially leading to the freezing of U.S.-based assets.