World Liberty Financial, the Donald Trump-backed cryptocurrency venture, has partnered with a Hong Kong-based company that offers AI models developed by companies the US administration has flagged as national security risks, Reuters has reported.
The company, WorldClaw, describes itself as an “operating system for AI agents” and offers users access to a range of models from different sources. Although it is an independent company, WorldClaw’s website says it is “powered by” World Liberty Financial’s stablecoin USD1, and the company’s launch post on X was shared by the official World Liberty Financial account.
A review by Reuters found that 43 of the 90 models available on the platform were developed by Chinese companies the Trump administration has said pose risks to US national security, including Alibaba, Baidu, and Z.ai. The platform also offers access to “dozens” of models from US firms including OpenAI and Anthropic, the news outlet added.
There is nothing illegal about offering these models in the US, and cheaper Chinese models are currently able to rival the leading ones offers in the US, where they are becoming increasingly popular.
However, the news outlet citied seven experts on Chinese technology, trade, and government ethics who said the business partnership, and the potential profits it will generate for Trump and his family, run counter to the administration’s stance towards Chinese tech companies.
On Monday, Reuters reported that the Trump administration is preparing to cut countries off from its AI supply chain initiative if they signed up to the Chinese equivalent, further cementing the US’s anti-Chinese AI stance.
Reuters was unable to ascertain details on the nature of the partnership between World Liberty Financial and WorldClaw, or how much money Trump has made through the platform. However, the president’s two eldest sons, Eric and Donald Junior, have publicly promoted the platform and a World Liberty executive has worked as an advisor to the company.
World Liberty Financial acquired a conditional banking charter in the US on 14 August, drawing criticism from Democrats and government ethics advocates over a potential conflict of interest given the President’s financial interests in the company.
