Donald Trump deflected questions about his cryptocurrency company’s Middle Eastern investors during a televised interview.
The president, 78, sat down with CBS News correspondent Ross Douthat for 60 Minutes last week following the midterm elections. Douthat pressed him on World Liberty Financial, the crypto firm where Trump serves as “co-founder emeritus” alongside his sons Donald Trump Jr, Eric Trump and Barron Trump.
Aryam Investment 1, a firm backed by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan — brother of UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan — holds a 49 percent stake in the company. Douthat asked whether that foreign investment raised corruption concerns.
“I know nothing about it,” Trump replied, according to the broadcast.
When Douthat followed up by asking if Trump would consider selling his stake and letting his sons run the business alone, the president shifted to discussing his broader finances. “How do you divest from cash?” he responded, saying most of his wealth was held with Wall Street firms and invested in index funds while he runs the country.
Trump continued by saying that every president faces similar problems.
“No matter what they do there’s a conflict, because the president is all-encompassing,” he added.
The exchange drew sharp criticism from viewers online. “Trump kept trying to answer a different question, diverting to stocks and index funds and cash when the question was very specifically about his cryptocurrency and its foreign investors,” one person wrote of the interview.
Another viewer praised Douthat’s handling of the exchange: “I LOVE this interviewer! He kept the interview on track, not allowing Trump to steer it off track as he usually does.”
Trump had promoted the crypto venture on Truth Social at its inception, writing: “My NEW Official Trump Meme is HERE! It’s time to celebrate everything we stand for: WINNING!”
Elsewhere in the 60 Minutes interview, Trump addressed potential cabinet changes after the midterms. “I love my Cabinet. I think they’re good. But I’ll be doing maybe a few changes. I don’t wanna mention who,” he said.
Hours after the interview aired, the White House announced that chief of staff Susie Wiles would step down from her role.