US Senator Flags UAE-WLFI Deal As Criminal Conduct

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US Senator Flags $187 Million UAE Payment to WLFI as ‘Criminal Conduct’

Written by Aaron S.,

Editor-In-Chief

Last Updated: February 03, 2026

Key Takeaways

Senator Chris Murphy alleged President Donald Trump and allies received secret UAE payments tied to defense tech access;
A Wall Street Journal report links a $500 million UAE deal with Trump’s World Liberty Financial firm;
Murphy warned that those involved could face criminal charges for possible bribery and corruption.

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US Senator Flags $187 Million UAE Payment to WLFI as ‘Criminal Conduct’

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Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut raised concerns about alleged payments from a United Arab Emirates investor connected to President Donald Trump’s business interests.

He warned that such actions could result in criminal charges, particularly if linked to the exchange of restricted US defense technology through a deal involving World Liberty Financial.

Murphy stated in a post on X that a UAE investor sent President Trump $187 million and Trump’s Middle East envoy $31 million.

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In return, the investor allegedly gained access to sensitive defense information. He called the situation “brazen” and said it should not be accepted as standard political behavior.

During a Senate address, Murphy summarized the sequence as a flow of secret payments to the Trump and Witkoff families, followed by the transfer of sensitive military technology to the UAE. He stated:

That is corruption. Those are the elements of a bribe. This is potentially criminal conduct.

Murphy also said that while accountability might take time under the current leadership, he believed it would come eventually. He closed his remarks by asserting that the justice system would prevail and that those who accepted money in exchange for influence would “go to jail".

The controversy stems from a Wall Street Journal report about a $500 million agreement between Aryam Investment, a UAE entity linked to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, and World Liberty Financial.

Recently, President Trump said he was unaware of a large investment tied to a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family and the World Liberty Financial project. What did he say? Read the full story.