URGENT UPDATE: A shocking report from the New York Times reveals that the Trump administration granted the United Arab Emirates (UAE) access to advanced artificial intelligence chips just days after receiving a staggering $2 billion investment in a cryptocurrency startup linked to Donald Trump’s family.
The report, published on Monday, October 16, 2023, highlights a controversial connection between the investment by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the decision to share sensitive technology, raising serious national security concerns. The UAE investment was funneled into World Liberty Financial, a company founded by Trump family members and the family of Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
Just two weeks following the UAE’s massive investment, the White House approved access to hundreds of thousands of critical AI chips, a crucial asset in the global technology race. This decision comes amidst escalating fears regarding the potential for these technologies to be misappropriated by adversarial nations such as China.
The Times investigation involved interviews with over 75 sources, although it did not definitively link the investment and the chip deal. Nonetheless, ethics experts voiced alarm, stating that these back-to-back transactions breach established norms for conduct among senior officials and their families.
Ryan Cummings, chief of staff at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, reacted strongly to the findings, declaring, “If this is true, this is the largest public corruption scandal in the history of the United States and it’s not even close.”
Foreign policy journalist Laura Rozen raised concerns about Witkoff’s focus, questioning whether his business dealings might be hindering his diplomatic responsibilities. “Maybe Witkoff is too busy pushing deals to enrich his and Trump’s families to focus on critical issues like the Israel-Gaza hostage situation,” she speculated.
Alasdair Phillips-Robins from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace critiqued the negotiation strategy, stating it appeared weak. “This sounds like the world’s weakest negotiation,” he remarked, noting that the UAE was offered unlimited chips without any significant concessions in return.
Adding to the controversy, independent journalist Jacob Silverman labeled the actions of the Trump administration as “impeachable,” highlighting the rampant corruption suggested by the report.
In addition to the cryptocurrency dealings, Trump is also under scrutiny for accepting a luxury jet from the government of Qatar, which he plans to use for the remainder of his term, further fueling allegations of impropriety.
As this story unfolds, the implications of these revelations could reshape the political landscape, prompting calls for accountability and renewed scrutiny of the Trump administration’s dealings. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing scandal that has captivated the nation and raised profound ethical questions.
