2 weeks ago
Trump-backed crypto firm backs AI venture offering restricted Chinese models
President Trump has a company called World Liberty Financial that makes digital money called crypto.
That company is working with another company called WorldClaw.
WorldClaw sells computer programs called AI that can think and answer questions.
Some of those AI programs were made by companies in China.
The U.S. government says some of those Chinese companies are risky.
People can pay WorldClaw using President Trump's digital money.
That means the Trump family can earn money when people use it.
Some people think this is not fair because the government is worried about Chinese technology.
The White House says there is no problem.
Some experts worry the Chinese AI might not be safe, but WorldClaw says it keeps people safe.
World Liberty Financial, backed by President Donald Trump, is collaborating with Hong Kong-based WorldClaw, which offers AI models from Chinese companies flagged by the U.S. government.
Nearly half of WorldClaw's 90 models — 43 — come from Chinese firms including Alibaba, Baidu, Z.ai, DeepSeek and Moonshot.
WorldClaw accepts World Liberty's USD1 stablecoin as payment, and the Trump family, which owns 38% of World Liberty, earns revenue from token use.
Critics say the collaboration runs counter to the administration's stance on Chinese tech, while the White House says there are no conflicts of interest.
Experts warn Chinese AI models may pose risks such as government monitoring, censored outputs and malicious code; WorldClaw says it applies security safeguards.
- Who
- President Donald Trump's World Liberty Financial and Hong Kong-based AI venture WorldClaw
- What
- A collaboration offering AI models from Chinese companies flagged by the U.S. government, with payments accepted in World Liberty's crypto tokens
- Where
- Hong Kong, where WorldClaw is based; Mar-a-Lago in Florida, where Trump Jr. said he would meet contest winners; the report was published by Reuters in Boston
- When
- Reported recently; WorldClaw was founded earlier this year and Donald Trump Jr. promoted it in May
- Why
- To expand access to AI models and generate revenue for the Trump family through use of World Liberty's tokens
Critics
Administration and company defenders
Consistency with U.S. policy on Chinese tech
Critics
The collaboration runs counter to the administration's stance toward Chinese tech companies and appears hypocritical given national security concerns.
Administration and company defenders
It is consistent with a business-first approach and is a common, widely accepted practice; major U.S. firms also offer Chinese AI.
Conflicts of interest
Critics
Potential profits for President Trump through World Liberty raise ethics concerns.
Administration and company defenders
The White House says there are no conflicts of interest and the president only acts in the best interests of the American public.
Security risks of Chinese AI models
Critics
Experts warn of monitoring by the Chinese government, censored outputs and malicious code that could hijack AI agents.
Administration and company defenders
WorldClaw says it takes security seriously, applies safeguards, and making a model available is not an endorsement of its developer.
Key facts
- Chinese models on WorldClaw
- 43 of 90 (nearly half)
- Chinese developers flagged
- Alibaba, Baidu, Z.ai, DeepSeek, Moonshot
- Trump family stake in World Liberty
- 38%
- Trump family crypto earnings
- More than $1.4 billion from World Liberty token sales
- WorldClaw users
- More than 10,000
- Daily requested tasks
- More than 50 million
- Payment methods
- USD1 stablecoin and other cryptocurrencies
- U.S. firms also offered
- OpenAI and Anthropic
Quotes
David Wachsman
Spokesman for World Liberty
“"As the U.S. government tries to respond to the rise and threat of Chinese AI, it seems hypocritical to go out through WorldClaw to use these tools from China to try and make a bunch of money."”
livemint.com
“"There are no conflicts of interest" in the relationship between World Liberty and WorldClaw and that "President Trump only acts in the best interests of the American public."”
livemint.com
Sources
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