Trump's family is embroiled in a $500m UAE scandal. We've hardly noticed | Mohamad Bazzi

A $500 Million Scandal Rocks Trump's Family Business

As Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025, a secret deal was revealed that highlights the questionable ethics surrounding his family business. An investment firm controlled by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, one of the most powerful officials in the UAE, has agreed to pay $500 million for nearly half of World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency startup founded by the Trump family.

While this arrangement might seem significant under any other president, it hardly made a ripple in the recent news cycle dominated by Trump's actions and statements. The deal, which was executed in the shadow of Trump's inauguration, directly enriched the president and his family, and raises questions about their ability to negotiate foreign policy effectively as an honest broker.

Tahnoon is known for his influence in UAE politics and has a history of playing key roles in major negotiations with the US, including those on fighting terrorism, economic investments, and securing UAE access to advanced computer technology. This latest deal underscores why Trump's foray into cryptocurrency has turned out to be the most lucrative but also dangerous way for him to profit from his presidency.

The partnership between the Trump family's crypto venture and the UAE government not only highlights the risks of corruption but also taps into an industry rife with fraud and lack of transparency. The Biden administration had restricted US companies, like Nvidia, from selling advanced computer chips to foreign countries that could misuse them for military purposes. However, Trump allowed the UAE to buy hundreds of thousands of those chips, sparking concerns about the potential misuse of AI technology.

The Trump administration's decision to deregulate the cryptocurrency industry and disband a national unit dedicated to investigating crypto-related fraud under Joe Biden has raised eyebrows. The lack of transparency in this industry allows the president and his family to collect millions from foreign investors and government officials who often face difficulty channeling money into US politics.

Critics argue that Trump's actions compromise his ability to negotiate foreign policy effectively, putting Washington at a credibility disadvantage when dealing with issues such as the civil war in Sudan. The $500 million deal involving World Liberty Financial is an extraordinary example of how Trump has monetized his presidency and used it for personal gain.

It remains to be seen whether Congress will take action on this scandal or if it will continue to let the matter slide. For now, it seems that Trump's ability to enrich himself through the presidency continues unabated, while the rest of us struggle with the implications for democracy.

omg is trumps fam really getting away with this shady deal $500 million from a UAE royal? that's some serious ethics fail ! i mean we should be worried about corruption and how it affects our foreign policy . if trump can't even negotiate without having his fam profiting off the deal, how credible can he be as a leader? not to mention this is just one example of how the trumps are making $$$ off the presidency . we need more transparency and accountability from our leaders ! #TrumpScandal #CorruptionMatters #DemocracyInDanger

Can't believe the lengths Trump's family will go to get rich off their time in office This $500 million deal is just another example of how corrupt the system can be when you've got that kind of influence and power. It's not about the money, it's about the lack of accountability and the erosion of trust in our institutions . I mean, what else are they gonna do next? Sell off the White House to the highest bidder?

I'm low-key shocked that no one's talking about how much more transparent this deal is compared to some other shady business dealings in Washington I mean, sure, it looks bad on paper, but at least we know where the money's coming from and who's involved. The Biden admin's been all secretive with their own deals, remember that Nvidia chip export fiasco? At least Trump's being open about his crypto venture - maybe he's onto something?

THE TRUMP FAMILY'S FINANCIAL SHENANIGANS ARE GETTING OUT OF HAND!! they're basically selling out to the highest bidder and it's getting old fast! i mean, can't they just do their jobs and not use the presidency as a personal ATM machine? the fact that they're making millions off of foreign investors and government officials who are basically being taken advantage of is just disgusting. and don't even get me started on the lack of transparency in the cryptocurrency industry - it's like they're trying to hide something! the whole thing reeks of corruption and it's only a matter of time before someone gets held accountable. maybe congress should finally step up and do some real investigative journalism instead of just letting things slide?

omg u guyz this is insane!!! $500 mil for trump fam bizz? like wut r they even doin here?!?? he cant just sell out 2 foreign govntments & get away wit it dont get me wrong i got nothin agenst the UAE or nothin but cmon man this is just sickening. how can u call urself a leader wen u r takin bribes from other countrys??

500 million bucks is crazy I mean, can you imagine if your uncle was selling a company to some rich Middle Eastern guy and suddenly you're getting a slice of that pie? It's like something out of The Godfather . Trump's got some 'splainin' to do, but I guess when you've got the nuclear codes in your pocket, it's harder to get called out on stuff like this . Still, it's weird that no one's making a bigger deal about this – maybe because they're all too busy with their own scandals . It's just another example of how the 1% play by different rules .

Ugh, I'm not surprised by this at all... Another example of how Trump is just using his power to line his own pockets and screw over everyone else . A $500 million deal? That's like, a fortune! And he's basically selling out the country's interests for a quick buck. I mean, what's next? Is he going to sell out our military secrets to China too? This guy is a menace. The fact that Congress isn't doing anything about it just shows how corrupt and broken they are .

And don't even get me started on the whole cryptocurrency thing... I mean, we're already dealing with enough problems in this industry, and Trump's just making it worse by deregulating everything. It's like he's intentionally trying to create a wild west situation where people can just make money off of anyone who falls for their scams. The fact that Sheikh Tahnoon is basically a key player in UAE politics and has access to the president's ear? That's just twisted .

I'm so sick of this administration... it's like they're trying to undermine everything we hold dear. Democracy, transparency, accountability - all gone down the drain . And what about the security implications of all this? I mean, we're basically giving away our military tech to countries that could use it against us... this is just reckless. Trump needs to be held accountable for his actions and for putting the country's interests last .

omg 500 mil is a lot!!! like what was trump thinking when he agreed to this deal?? didn't he think about how it would look for usa in sudan civil war? i mean, its not just that he profited from it but also compromised national security...i guess thats why congress should definitely do something about it...but wont they just let it slide like everyone else? btw, has anyone seen those new nba jerseys?? i need to get myself a kyrie irving one ASAP

This deal reeks of some serious cronyism and corruption . I mean, $500 million is a huge sum for one company, and especially when it involves a foreign investor with ties to UAE politics. It's like Trump and his family are playing both sides, profiting off the presidency while claiming to be all about 'America First' . And let's not forget, this deal comes at a time when US credibility on international issues is already under scrutiny . I don't think it's a stretch to say that this deal has compromised Trump's ability to negotiate foreign policy effectively, and for good reason . It just looks like he's using his presidency as a personal ATM .

Wow this is a huge deal and I'm not surprised at all that the Trump family is involved in shady business deals. It's like they think they're above the law or something. $500 million is a lot of money and it's crazy that someone like Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan would be willing to invest that kind of cash into a company run by the Trumps.

Interesting how this all ties in with the Biden admin's restrictions on US companies selling advanced computer chips to foreign countries. It sounds like the Trumps were just playing by their own rules and ignoring all those regulations. I'm not sure if Congress will do anything about it, but it's definitely something that needs to be looked into.

What really gets me is how this whole thing highlights the lack of transparency in the cryptocurrency industry. It's like a Wild West out there and anyone can just make money off of people's ignorance. The fact that the Trumps can collect millions from foreign investors without having to disclose where all that cash came from? That's just plain wrong.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around how someone as powerful as Donald Trump can get away with this stuff. It's like he's got his own special deal with the universe or something

I'm telling you, something fishy is going on here. $500 million just to get in bed with the UAE? That's some serious influence peddling, if you ask me. And what's really interesting is that this deal came down during Trump's inauguration, like it was a secret handshake with the government. You gotta wonder who else has been getting sweet deals behind closed doors while we're not looking.

And don't even get me started on how this affects his ability to do foreign policy. I mean, how can you negotiate effectively when you're got a blind spot for your own family's financial interests? It's like he's playing both sides against each other, and it's just plain unfair to the American people.

I'm not saying it's definitely corruption, but it smells bad enough to me. And what about all those restrictions on US companies selling chips to foreign countries? That was a move by Biden to curb the misuse of AI tech, right? But Trump just went ahead and did the opposite... that doesn't sit right with me.

We need some serious transparency here, or at least someone in Congress who's willing to ask tough questions. This is getting out of hand, folks!

"Another shady deal for Trumpty to add to his legacy $500 mil and he's still raking it in, meanwhile we're stuck with a guy who thinks QAnon is real "

I gotta say, I'm low-key shocked nobody's making a big deal outta this . Like, $500 million is a crazy amount of cash and if it's just being funneled into Trump's family business, that's some shady stuff . I'm all for transparency in crypto and foreign policy, but apparently, that's not the priority right now . What really gets my goat is how Trump's been using his presidency to pad his own wallet while we're dealing with bigger issues like Sudan's civil war . Congress needs to step up and take action, or else this whole thing just becomes a slap in the face to democracy

"Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

I'm kinda shocked by this new deal between Sheikh Tahnoon and the Trump family . On one hand, you gotta wonder how someone as influential as him just happens to invest in a company that's basically a front for the Trumps' shady business practices . It's like he's trying to curry favor or something.

And don't even get me started on the cryptocurrency industry itself - it's basically an open book when it comes to scams and money laundering . So, Trump's decision to deregulate it is just a huge red flag in my book . I mean, what's next? Him using his presidency to launder cash for some shady cartel?

It's not like this surprise deal came out of the blue either - there's been rumors about this arrangement for ages, and it's only now that we're seeing the details . The thing is, Trump's got a reputation for being slick with money, but at what cost to his integrity?

The recent $500 million deal between World Liberty Financial and an investment firm controlled by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan is a stark reminder of the blurred lines between personal gain and public duty . Trump's decision to allow UAE access to advanced computer chips, despite Biden's restrictions, raises significant concerns about national security and the potential misuse of AI technology . This scandal highlights the need for increased transparency in the cryptocurrency industry and robust regulations to prevent corruption and ensure that US policies are not compromised by personal interests .

umm so like $500 million is a lot of money right? and I wonder how do they even make deals like that without anyone noticing? it sounds super shady to me... and what's with all these foreign officials investing in crypto? shouldn't that be, like, suspicious or something? also, I was watching this video the other day about how AI is being used to, uh, what was it again? oh yeah, predict elections it made me think of Trump and his presidency and how he's, like, really into crypto now... maybe that's why there are so many weird rules around it

Umm, yeah... so like, can you imagine if this was just a normal businessman making deals without all the drama? But noooo, Trump is in charge and it's all about personal gain . I mean, I get that he's trying to make some extra cash, but does it have to come at the expense of credibility and transparency? And what's next? Is he gonna start selling access to the Oval Office like a timeshare? The $500 million thing is just crazy... like, can we even trust him to negotiate with foreign officials now? And isn't this just a slap in the face to the whole 'fighting terrorism' and 'economic investments' thing he's always talking about? It's all just so... suspicious . And don't even get me started on how this is gonna affect our national security . I guess we'll just have to wait and see if Congress does anything about it .

I'm so down with the idea that we should just accept this shady deal as a non-issue, lol . Like, who cares if Trump's family is getting rich off foreign investors? It's not like they're using the money to fund their next reality TV show . And honestly, can we really blame them for trying to make some cash while in office? It's not like there's a constitutional limit on how much personal wealth a president can accumulate... or should be able to accumulate .

And let's be real, if the Biden admin was so concerned about US companies selling chips to foreign countries, maybe they should have just done something about it before Trump came along . I mean, now we're stuck with a situation where the UAE is basically getting advanced tech for pennies on the dollar... and our prez is raking it in .

I'm all for transparency and accountability, but let's not pretend like this scandal isn't just another example of the 1% having their way . Maybe we should be focusing on ways to level the playing field instead of getting all worked up about Trump's personal finances .