Rep. Ro Khanna Launches House Probe Into $500M UAE-World Liberty Financial Deal

U.S. Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA-17) has formally launched a congressional investigation into a reported $500 million investment by a United Arab Emirates-linked investor in World Liberty Financial (WLFI) — a cryptocy venture tied to the family of President Donald Trump — raising concerns about foreign influence, national security and conflicts of interest. 

What’s Being Investigated

Khanna — the ranking member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, which also examines broader national security risks — sent a letter to WLFI leadership demanding detailed documentation of the UAE investment, including ownership records, payment flows and internal communications related to the deal. Lawmakers have set a March 1, 2026 deadline for responses. 

The probe centers on a reported 49 % stake deal worth $500 million that was signed in January 2025, just days before Trump’s inauguration. The investment is said to have come through an entity connected to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a senior UAE royal and national security adviser — a figure with deep ties to the country’s sovereign investment ecosystem. 

Concerns Driving the Inquiry

Khanna and other lawmakers are questioning whether the timing, size and foreign connections of the investment could have created conflicts of interest or undue influence on U.S. policymaking. Among the specific issues under review:

• Potential national security implications, given the reported involvement of high-level foreign figures with strategic interests. 

• Conflict-of-interest questions, as WLFI is connected to Trump family members and the investment occurred just prior to Trump assuming office. 

• Policy linkages, including notes that the UAE subsequently received approval for advanced AI chip exports that had been previously restricted — raising questions about whether the crypto investment influenced export policy decisions. 

Khanna has framed the investigation as a matter of public trust and transparency, saying lawmakers need clarity on how foreign capital flows into politically connected entities and whether existing ethics rules and national security protections were upheld. 

Background and Broader Scrutiny

Reports about the investment — first highlighted by The Wall Street Journal — indicated that Sheikh Tahnoon’s group not only acquired a significant stake in WLFI but also gained board representation alongside Trump family members and executives. Critics have raised questions about what, if any, influence such a substantial foreign stake might have on U.S. technology and trade decisions. 

The Trump administration has denied improper influence, stating the investment did not involve political access for foreign governments. Still, the unfolding congressional inquiry underscores growing concern in Washington about the intersection of global capital, crypto ventures and public policy — particularly when ties involve politically connected individuals and foreign states.