Two Democratic senators — Elizabeth Warren and Andy Kim — have sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Bessent, calling for a national security review of a $500 million investment by a UAE-linked entity in World Liberty Financial (WLFI) under the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).
Since November 2024, WLFI has generated at least $1.4 billion in revenue for the Trump and Witkoff families. According to WLFI's public disclosures, 75% of its token sale proceeds flow directly to DT Marks, an entity controlled by Donald Trump. Trump personally holds 70% of that entity, with the rest held by family members. The Witkoff family receives 12.5%, while co-founders Folkman and Herro each get 12.5%. Trump's family has pocketed at least $1.2 billion in cash, plus 22.5 billion WLFI tokens worth approximately $5 billion at the current price of $0.23. For context, Trump's real estate empire took eight full years (2010–2017) to generate $1.2 billion in cash. WLFI matched that in just 16 months.
The 'Spy Sheikh' Entry
According to an exclusive Wall Street Journal report, G42 Group — backed by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family and UAE national security advisor — secretly purchased a 49% stake in WLFI for $500 million through an entity called Aryam Investment 1, just four days before Trump's inauguration in January 2025. The deal was signed by Trump's son Eric Trump and never publicly disclosed. Estimated fund flows: $187 million to Trump family entities and $31 million to the Witkoff family. G42 executives subsequently secured board seats, making Tahnoon's investment vehicle WLFI's largest outside shareholder. Notably, CNBC has described Tahnoon as the 'Spy Sheikh' due to his ties to UAE intelligence.
Senators Demand CFIUS Review
In their letter to Treasury Secretary Bessent, obtained by Block, Warren and Kim raised sharp national security concerns: 'This transaction raises significant national security concerns. WLFI says it collects user personal information, and we question whether the UAE or even China could gain access to this data.' They highlighted G42's past collaborations with Chinese firms and long-standing warnings from U.S. intelligence about potential technology transfers to the Chinese military. The senators demand that the Treasury Department clarify by March 5 whether it has initiated a CFIUS review or made recommendations to the president. CFIUS, led by the Treasury, evaluates foreign investments involving sensitive technologies or data.
AI Chips for Crypto Equity?
Adding to the controversy is a suspicious timeline. Months after the UAE's WLFI investment, the Trump administration approved the annual export of approximately 500,000 advanced AI chips to the UAE, with about one-fifth of the quota allocated to Tahnoon's G42. Lawmakers question a quid pro quo: the UAE royal family funneled hundreds of millions to the Trumps via crypto, then received export licenses for cutting-edge U.S. AI technology.
Additionally, WLFI's stablecoin USD1, launched in March 2025, has a circulation exceeding $5 billion, generating roughly $100 million annually in Treasury interest income — 75% of which flows back to the Trump family. The company lists Trump and his Middle East envoy Witkoff as 'honorary co-founders,' but a spokesperson claims the two were not involved in the UAE deal.