Jen Psaki is now being threatened with legal action after she suggested on air that she knew the real reason Eric Trump joined his father on a state visit to China this week.
The former White House press secretary, speaking on her MS NOW program, made the remark while discussing the trip, saying: “It certainly seems like Eric might be getting a little more than just some quality time with his dad out of his China trip. Doesn’t it?”
Psaki’s point was that President Trump’s third son could have had financial motivations for traveling alongside him. Eric, 42, pushed back on that framing and said he was there because he was ‘as a loving son who adores my father and wouldn’t miss being by his side for this incredible moment.’
Echoing the aggressive media posture often associated with his father, Eric criticized MS NOW and Psaki for broadcasting the assertion and said he would sue. Reports detailing his alleged business connections and the surrounding claims appear to have struck a nerve.
In making her comments, Psaki was referencing reporting from the Financial Times that connected Eric—an executive vice president in the Trump real estate business—to possible financial interests involving China.
The link centers on Alt5 Sigma, a fintech firm associated with Eric, which last week announced an agreement with Chinese company Nano Labs to develop large-scale data centers across the United States. The White House, however, has stated that ‘there are no conflicts of interest’ tied to the arrangement.
“Contrary to her monolog [sic] and blatant lies, I have NEVER been on the board of ALT5 — not now, not ever,” Eric Trump said as he blasted Psaki. He then sought to minimize his relationship with the business by repeating that he has not served on its board.
That statement clashes with prior disclosures: Alt5’s initial 2025 SEC filing reportedly named Eric as one of its directors, around the time a $1.5 billion agreement was struck with the Trump family’s crypto venture, World Liberty Financial.
He also appeared on the firm’s website at one stage, and Bloomberg reported that his bio was removed from Alt5’s site earlier this year.
Eric did not offer details on what legal claims he would pursue, but he added: “I have had zero involvement in any merger discussions involving any public entity I do not run or control.
“I have zero business interests in China. No properties, no investments, nothing!”
He also pointed to his personal activities during the visit, saying that while his father was engaged in trade talks with China’s Xi Jingping, he and his wife Lara took time to visit the Great Wall as tourists.
On Friday night, Psaki responded to Eric’s denials by stressing that the situation is not straightforward, saying: “Now, to be as fair as possible to Eric, I should say that his role at Alt5 is that, at the very least, been complicated.
“We do know that he’s not currently a director on the board, but…the company initially announced that he was becoming a director on Alt5’s board of directors.”
She added: “Eric Trump’s connections to the company have never just been limited to him being a board observer, because Alt5 Sigma is deeply intertwined with the Trump family cryptocurrency company that Eric Trump co-founded, World Liberty Financial.”