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Emirati politician known as the ‘Spy Sheikh’ made secret deal with Trump company

05:45

Here & Now Newsroom

February 02, 2026

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, poses for a photo with UAE National Security Advisor Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (Evelyn Hockstein/Pool Photo via AP)

Just days before President Trump’s inauguration, a company linked to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, an Emirati royal and government official, agreed to buy 49% of a Trump family crypto company called World Liberty Financial.

After Trump took office, Tahnoon gained extraordinary access to the White House, and the U.S. approved large artificial intelligence chip sales to the UAE.

Wall Street Journal reporter Rebecca Ballhaus talks with host Scott Tong about the details of the deal.

This segment aired on February 2, 2026.