President Donald Trump confirmed during a televised interview that he is a co-owner of World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency venture involving his family, but insisted he knows nothing about its operations or reported ties to investors linked to the United Arab Emirates. The remarks came in a conversation with correspondent Ross Douthat that aired after the midterm elections, in which Democrats gained control of both chambers of Congress.

Trump responded to questions about whether foreign investors might expect influence in exchange for their participation by saying he did not know. He maintained that his sons manage the day-to-day business and that similar issues have confronted American presidents throughout history.

Family Involvement and Ownership Structure

World Liberty Financial issues a governance token and a stablecoin and has expanded into decentralized lending markets. Trump was named chief crypto advocate at the company's launch, with his sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump listed as Web3 ambassadors and Barron Trump as chief DeFi visionary. Company disclosures indicate that an entity affiliated with Trump and certain family members holds a substantial ownership interest in the holding company, along with a large allocation of tokens and a claim on proceeds from token sales. Separate family-linked entities have indirect interests in interest earned on stablecoin reserves. The disclosures state that no Trump family member serves as an officer, director or employee, though the sons have remained involved.

When asked why he does not divest his stake while allowing his sons to continue operating the business, Trump replied that most of his wealth is managed by major Wall Street firms and placed in index funds. He questioned how one divests from cash and said it would be difficult to instruct his sons to halt commercial activity for the duration of a presidential term. Trump also addressed a report that his net worth had risen by about three billion dollars since his return to office, commenting that many people experienced gains and that he pays little attention to his personal finances.

Reported UAE Investment Draws Scrutiny

Reports have detailed an agreement under which a UAE-backed investment vehicle tied to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the country's national security adviser, arranged to acquire a 49 percent stake in World Liberty Financial for 500 million dollars. The deal was signed by Eric Trump on the company's behalf days before the January 2025 inauguration. A portion of the initial payment was reported to have gone to Trump family entities, with additional sums directed to entities linked to Steve Witkoff, who later served as a Middle East envoy. A company spokesperson has previously stated that neither Trump nor Witkoff had any involvement in the transaction. Trump has said he was not aware of the arrangement.

Democrats have raised concerns about potential conflicts and the timing relative to policy decisions involving advanced technology exports. Legal observers expect the new congressional majorities to examine the family's cryptocurrency activities, including funding sources and foreign associations. One attorney predicted committees would look for evidence of self-dealing.

Ongoing Legal Dispute

The company's reported UAE ownership has also figured in a separate legal matter. Lawyers for Tron founder Justin Sun have asked a federal court to sanction World Liberty Financial, alleging delayed disclosure of the foreign stake that could affect jurisdiction in his lawsuit against the firm. World Liberty Financial has characterized the legal effort as a meritless public-relations maneuver.

Trump framed the broader issue of presidential business interests as longstanding. He noted that presidents have faced comparable questions since the time of George Washington and referenced earlier industries such as oil. He added that every president has dealt with such problems and that his own public profile is larger than that of many predecessors.

The interview marked Trump's first major sit-down after the midterms. Attention is expected to remain on the family's crypto holdings as new congressional leadership organizes investigative priorities for the coming session.