Warren Probes Trump Admin Over UAE Export Controls After Crypto Investment

Sen. Elizabeth Warren is demanding answers from Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick about the Trump administration's decision to ease export controls on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after UAE-linked entities invested hundreds of millions of dollars in President Donald Trump's family cryptocurrency venture, World Liberty Financial.

The change allows certain sensitive products to be shipped under broad exemptions instead of requiring companies to obtain individual licenses. This streamlined access will benefit the UAE government, G42, and its cloud subsidiary Core42, giving them easier access to advanced-computing equipment.

Warren expressed concern that this decision may have been influenced by Trump's business interests, citing a meeting between Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE's national security advisor and chairman of G42, and US officials. Warren also questioned how Commerce would prevent controlled technology from reaching prohibited users.

The Commerce Department has maintained that the change recognizes the UAE's status as a major US defense partner and its support for US national security interests. However, Warren argued that every other country receiving similar treatment participates in at least one of the four major international export-control agreements, which the UAE does not.