Donald Trump’s Finances: A crypto deal was signed four days before Trump took office. Democrats want the paper trail on a $500 million transaction

Donald Trump reported more than $1.4 billion in income from crypto and related ventures in 2025. One deal drawing attention in Congress was signed just four days before he returned to the White House. An investor linked to the United Arab Emirates agreed to pay $500 million for a stake in World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture the Trump family helped launch. Democrats want to see what the records say about who benefited.

World Liberty Financial has until January 4 to give Senate investigators the records they requested. The date falls just after Democrats take control of Congress. So if the company rejects their requests, then the lawmakers will be eligible to go the legal route and ask for the Trump family’s crypto records. They can seek subpoenas and force the company to answer. The Democrats have been focusing on one transaction that stands out: a reported $500 million deal signed days before President Donald Trump returned to office.

Why are Democrats looking at Donald Trump’s finances?

Democrats want to know whether foreign investors in the Trump family’s businesses sought favorable treatment from his administration. Crypto is an early focus. Trump reported more than $2.2 billion in income for 2025, according to The Washington Post’s analysis of his financial disclosure. More than $1.4 billion came from cryptocurrency and related ventures.


World Liberty token sales accounted for at least $525 million. A separate licensing agreement tied to Trump’s crypto business generated $635 million in royalties as per The Washington Post’s report. This disclosure reveals the earnings reported by President Donald Trump. The records lawmakers want could tell them more about who was behind the payments.

What happened in the $500 million World Liberty Financial deal?

Representatives of an Abu Dhabi royal signed a deal for a 49% stake in World Liberty Financial four days before Trump’s January 2025 inauguration, The Wall Street Journal reported. Months later, the United Arab Emirates secured access to advanced U.S. AI chips. The timing gives lawmakers a reason to ask whether the two were connected. It does not establish that the investment influenced the decision.

Donald Trump made an appearance on CBS’ 60 Minutes and acknowledged that he was a co-owner of World Liberty. During the interview, When the correspondent Ross Douthat kept asking about the foreign investment, Trump said that he knew nothing about such transaction. He said his sons run the family business, so he has no knowledge about it. When the interviewer asked if he knew whether foreign investors believed they were buying influence, he said he didn’t know.

Why are lawmakers also looking at Jared Kushner?

Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland has questioned Kushner about his work as a U.S. negotiator while his investment firm, Affinity Partners, took money from foreign investors. Raskin’s concern is that some of those investors had interests in the same conflicts Kushner was helping the United States negotiate.

The White House has challenged the planned inquiries. White House counsel Will Scharf warned Rep. Robert Garcia that using investigations to intimidate officials could cross a legal line. Garcia responded that Congress has its own constitutional authority to conduct oversight.

What happens if crypto companies miss the Jan. 4 deadline?

Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut asked World Liberty and other companies, including Binance and Tether, to provide records voluntarily by Jan. 4, 2027. If the companies refuse, the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations could pursue subpoenas. Congress can also seek enforcement in federal court if a subpoena goes unanswered.

FAQs

Did World Liberty Financial bring Trump more than $2 billion in 2025?

No. The $2.2 billion figure covers Trump’s total reported income. More than $1.4 billion came from crypto and related ventures.

Has World Liberty Financial already been subpoenaed?

Blumenthal’s Nov. 5 letter requested voluntary cooperation. It was not a subpoena.