The Trump franchise is expanding in the Middle East — and so are ethical concerns

DOHA, Qatar — President Donald Trump brushed off questions Wednesday over ethical concerns about the growing Middle East footprint of his family business, as his trip in the region takes him to three countries with Trump-branded ventures.

DOHA, Qatar — President Donald Trump brushed off questions Wednesday over ethical concerns about the growing Middle East footprint of his family business, as his trip in the region takes him to three countries with Trump-branded ventures.

On Wednesday, Trump told reporters on Air Force One that he didn’t know how an Emirati-backed firm had struck a deal with the Trump family company’s digital coin for $2 billion.

“I really don’t know anything about it,” Trump said, adding that he is a big cryptocurrency fan and if the U.S. doesn’t lead in crypto and AI, China will. Zach Witkoff, a co-founder of the World Liberty Financial crypto venture and the son of the president’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, announced the investment at a conference in Dubai earlier this month.

Asked if the Saudi-financed and Trump-linked LIV Golf tour came up during his conversations with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the last two days, Trump said it had not. “We didn’t discuss that,” he added. He also sidestepped Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s threat to block his nominees until there are more answers on a high-priced jet that Qatar has offered as a gift and instead mused that there was “just something wrong” with Schumer, a New York Democrat.

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