WP: Middle Eastern Monarchies Are “dreadfully” Awaiting Investigations Into Their Ties To Trump
- 15.11.2026, 22:52
Investments, real estate transactions, and an airplane gifted by Qatar have come under scrutiny.
The governments of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar are “horrified” as they brace for investigations by Democrats in the U.S. Congress into possible corrupt ties with President Donald Trump and his family. This was reported by The Washington Post.
Following their victory in the midterm elections, Democrats promised to “follow the money” wherever it leads and to scrutinize the financial transactions of the Trump administration and his inner circle. According to the publication, party representatives have already warned three monarchies about the upcoming investigations. The focus may be on real estate deals, investments, and a gift from Qatar in the form of a luxury private Boeing 747-8 jet worth $400 million.
The UAE’s involvement in the Trump family’s cryptocurrency business may be of particular interest. An entity linked to Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan acquired a $500 million stake in World Liberty Financial, a company founded by the president’s sons and the son of U.S. Special Envoy Steve Whitcroft. This occurred several months before the UAE gained access to advanced American microchips. “This is corruption, plain and simple,” Senator Elizabeth Warren (a Democrat from Massachusetts) said at the time.
Democrats may also scrutinize Saudi Arabia’s investments in Jared Kushner’s businesses: in 2021, the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund invested $2 billion in his company, Affinity Partners. After Trump’s return to the White House, his family expanded its business in the country, announcing the construction of Trump Tower and Trump Plaza in Jeddah and residential complexes in Riyadh.
Another possible subject of the investigation is an agreement on the development of Saudi nuclear energy using American technology.
According to WP sources, the monarchy is unlikely to voluntarily provide the requested information, including private correspondence. This could complicate their relations with the new Democratic majority in Congress, which could use arms sales and security assistance as leverage. However, one of the publication’s sources notes that lawmakers are unlikely to want to be full-fledged partners with countries they believe are involved in “corrupting the American system.”
Following the Democrats’ victory in the U.S. midterm elections, Trump’s sons’ businesses have come under scrutiny by the new Congress. NBC News identified seven companies linked to them that, following Trump’s return to the White House, received government contracts, funding offers, loans, or favorable regulatory decisions. According to the network, these companies may become one of the main targets of Democratic investigations.
Among these companies are manufacturers of rare-earth magnets, drones, and rocket technology, as well as the cryptocurrency project World Liberty Financial and the e-cigarette manufacturer Juul Labs. In particular, Vulcan Elements received a $620 million loan from the Pentagon and $50 million in federal support following an investment by 1789 Capital, where Trump Jr. serves as a senior partner. Another project linked to the brothers, Powerus, announced contracts with the U.S. Air Force worth up to $90 million.
Democrats are already gathering information on the business interests of Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. Once their party takes control of Congress in January, they will be able to demand documents and subpoena witnesses.
Companies and representatives of the Trump family deny that the brothers influenced the awarding of government contracts or regulatory decisions. They claim that the president’s sons are passive minority investors and do not participate in the management of the businesses. Trump himself has previously acknowledged that it is difficult for him to restrict his sons’ business activities during his presidency. “It’s hard to tell them, ‘Don’t do anything for four years because I’m president,’” the U.S. president noted.