Donald Trump and special envoy Witkoff expect benefits from their official business dealings.

President Trump’s acceptance of a $400m Boeing 747 from Qatar has garnered attention. Trump was quoted saying that only a fool would decline this gift for the country. However, it is reported that Trump and his golf and business partner, Steve Witkoff, have secured a much larger and potentially more profitable gift – a $2bn investment in their cryptocurrency venture from Abu Dhabi. The investment is set to benefit the Trump and Witkoff families through their company, World Liberty Financial. The deal has raised questions about the blending of public service with private gain, especially as Witkoff serves as one of Trump’s diplomatic envoys. Despite White House claims of “no conflicts of interest,” critics argue that the situation suggests the opposite. Some experts point to the lack of modern precedent for such a situation, and there are concerns about the implications of relaxing restrictions on exports of advanced chips to the UAE as a potential quid pro quo for the investment. Additionally, there is criticism of Witkoff’s inexperience in diplomacy, despite his commitment to the role of peacemaker.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/30/trump-steve-witkoff-envoy