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President Donald Trump says he knows “nothing” about the foreign investors in World Liberty Financial, the crypto company his family runs. He told CBS News in an interview aired November 8, 2026, that his sons manage the business, while reports of UAE-linked stakes keep conflict-of-interest questions alive.
“Because I know nothing about it,” Trump responded when asked why foreign investment in his crypto business should not raise such concerns.
The comments come amid reports that investors linked to the United Arab Emirates have acquired significant interests in companies associated with World Liberty Financial, raising questions about the relationship between Trump’s political position and his private business interests.
During the interview, Douthat also challenged Trump over why he could not sell his ownership interest in World Liberty Financial while allowing his sons to continue managing the company.
Trump pushed back against the suggestion, questioning how such a divestment would work.
“How do you divest from cash?” he asked.
The president added that much of his personal wealth was held through major Wall Street financial firms and invested in index funds.
Trump has previously defended his continued involvement in the venture by pointing to his sons’ management responsibilities, arguing that stepping away from the business entirely would effectively prevent them from continuing their work during his presidency.
“I have a company. My sons run the company. It’s hard to say to them, ‘Don’t do anything anymore for four years because I’m president,’” he said.
World Liberty Financial launched in September 2024, shortly before Trump’s return to the White House. The company presented Trump as its “Chief Crypto Advocate,” while his sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump were named “Web3 Ambassadors.” His youngest son, Barron Trump, was designated “Chief DeFi Visionary.”
The company’s family connections and financial structure have since attracted scrutiny, particularly as its activities have intersected with foreign investment and the broader digital asset industry.
Questions surrounding World Liberty Financial intensified following reports about investments connected to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al Nahyan, the UAE’s national security adviser.
A Wall Street Journal report in August said Tahnoon and co-investors held a 49% stake in WLTC Holdings, a company linked to the World Liberty ecosystem.
An earlier report by the publication also alleged that a Tahnoon-backed investment vehicle had secretly acquired a 49% stake in World Liberty Financial for $500 million shortly before Trump’s inauguration.
The reported investment has drawn attention because of Tahnoon’s influential position within the UAE and the potential implications of foreign capital flowing into a business associated with a sitting US president.
World Liberty Financial has also recently received preliminary approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for a national trust bank charter, adding another dimension to the company’s expanding financial ambitions.
However, preliminary regulatory approval is not equivalent to a final banking charter. The development nevertheless places the company within a broader conversation about the growing involvement of politically connected businesses in the regulated digital asset sector.
The reports have intensified questions about the extent of Trump’s involvement in the company and whether existing arrangements adequately address potential conflicts of interest.
Beyond questions about foreign ownership, World Liberty Financial is also facing a legal dispute with cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun, who says he invested $45 million in WLFI tokens.
The Tron founder filed a lawsuit against the company in April over the alleged freezing of his tokens. He has also sought sanctions against World Liberty, arguing that the company failed to disclose that entities within its ownership structure had UAE citizenship until months into their legal dispute.
World Liberty Financial has rejected Sun’s case, describing it as a “meritless PR stunt.”
The dispute adds to the scrutiny surrounding the company’s ownership arrangements, transparency and treatment of investors.
Financial concerns have also emerged around Trump’s broader cryptocurrency interests. In August, consumer advocacy organisation Public Citizen estimated that investors across Trump-linked crypto products were at least $4.7 billion underwater, largely reflecting unrealised losses.
The organisation attributed at least $1 billion of those estimated paper losses to WLFI.
These figures represent unrealised losses rather than necessarily completed financial losses, but they highlight the financial exposure facing investors in Trump-associated digital asset ventures.
Trump’s latest comments have renewed attention on the relationship between his presidential responsibilities and his continued financial interests in World Liberty Financial.
Although he maintains that his sons manage the company, reports of substantial UAE-linked investments, the ongoing dispute with Sun and the venture’s pursuit of additional regulatory approvals have kept its ownership and governance arrangements under scrutiny.
The central question remains whether Trump’s limited involvement in day-to-day operations sufficiently addresses concerns about his continued ownership interest and the potential influence of foreign investors.
As World Liberty Financial expands its ambitions in the digital asset and banking sectors, its relationship with the Trump family is likely to remain a significant issue in discussions about political accountability, financial transparency and cryptocurrency regulation.
See Full 60 Minutes transcript of the CBS interview with Trump
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