World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a company associated with former U.S. President Donald Trump, is collaborating with the Hong Kong-based service WorldClaw, according to Reuters. This platform provides access to models developed by Chinese firms that the U.S. government has previously flagged as potential national security risks.
Reuters estimates that out of the 90 models available on WorldClaw, 43 are created by Chinese companies such as Alibaba, Baidu, and Z.ai. The platform also features numerous American models, including those from OpenAI and Anthropic.
WorldClaw accepts payments in the stablecoin USD1 and other tokens associated with World Liberty. The Trump family holds a 38% stake in this venture and earns revenue from the sale and circulation of its digital assets.
The stablecoin is backed by traditional assets, including U.S. Treasury bonds, and the Trump family is entitled to a portion of the interest income from these reserves.
Reuters was unable to ascertain the specifics of the financial agreements between the involved companies.
Overview of WorldClaw
Launched in 2026, WorldClaw claims through a representative to operate as an independent business. Its website states that it is "not offered, managed, or controlled" by World Liberty or any related parties.
However, Ryan Fan, the growth director at World Liberty, has acted as an advisor for WorldClaw regarding the integration of USD1, partnership development, and international expansion into AI markets. WorldClaw clarified that his role was strictly advisory.
Trump's older sons, co-founders of WLFI, have actively promoted the platform on social media. In May, Donald Trump Jr. promised to meet with the winners of a WorldClaw contest at the Trump family's Mar-a-Lago estate, while Eric Trump referred to this collaboration as the "future of finance."
Great seeing @worldlibertyfi expand offerings, and utilization of USD1, into the AI space… this is the future of finance. https://t.co/SnJnYUVrJz
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) May 5, 2026
WorldClaw's model aggregator, WorldRouter, boasts over 10,000 users and processes more than 50 million requests daily, according to project data. Additionally, the service is developing an application featuring AI agents for daily tasks ranging from food ordering to email summarization.
Developers Facing U.S. Restrictions
While the use of Chinese AI solutions is generally legal in the U.S., they are often cheaper than their American counterparts and are gaining traction among local tech companies. However, some developers are subject to restrictions.
The Pentagon has included Alibaba and Baidu on its list of firms linked to the Chinese military, which prohibits the defense department from contracting with them.
Meanwhile, Z.ai (formerly Zhipu AI) has been placed on the U.S. Department of Commerce's Entity List, requiring export licenses for American products and services to be supplied to such organizations, which are typically denied. The department cites the startup's contribution to China's "military modernization" through advanced AI research.
DeepSeek and Moonshot, two other developers whose models are available on WorldClaw, have previously faced accusations from U.S. authorities regarding intellectual property theft.
Both Alibaba and Baidu deny any ties to the Chinese military, and Beijing rejects claims of technology theft.
Alibaba has stated it is not a military entity and does not participate in a "military-civil fusion" strategy, labeling its inclusion in the Pentagon's list as "arbitrary and unjustified." The company intends to challenge this decision in court.
Participants Explain the Collaboration
According to Reuters, there are no legal violations in the partnership between World Liberty and WorldClaw or in WorldClaw's relationships with Chinese developers.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly also noted that there is no conflict of interest between the companies, stating that "the president acts solely in the interests of American citizens."
David Waksman from World Liberty highlighted that major American services also offer models from both Chinese and American developers.
"This is a common and accepted approach," he emphasized in comments to Reuters.
WorldClaw clarified that the project's mission is to assist American AI companies in entering foreign markets, and that placing a model on the platform does not indicate endorsement of its developer.
Expert Opinions
Seven experts interviewed by Reuters, specializing in Chinese technology, trade, and government ethics, believe that the partnership and potential profits for the president through World Liberty conflict with his administration's stance.
"While the U.S. government tries to respond to the rise and threat of Chinese AI, seeking out WorldClaw for these Chinese tools and attempts to make a lot of money seems hypocritical," said Sam Bresnick, a fellow at Georgetown University's Center for Security and Emerging Technologies.
Attorney Peter Jeidel, who leads the sanctions and trade control practice at Troutman Pepper Locke in Washington, provided two interpretations of the situation. On one hand, such business collaboration creates tension amid the administration's hawkish stance toward China. On the other hand, Trump's second term has seen less stringent pressure on Chinese companies and a prioritization of business interests, fitting into this narrative, he noted.
Daniel Remler, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security and a former State Department advisor, warned of potential risks for users of Chinese models, including possible surveillance by Chinese authorities, censorship of responses, and the introduction of malicious code that could take control of AI agents.
WorldClaw indicated that user queries may be sent to model providers, but the company stated it employs privacy and security measures.
Regulator Approves World Liberty's Trust Bank Application
The partnership with WorldClaw is not the only aspect of World Liberty that has raised questions about conflicts of interest. On August 14, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) granted preliminary conditional approval for the establishment of the national trust bank World Liberty Trust Company, N.A., based in Bay Harbor Islands, Florida.
This new entity will issue and redeem USD1 for institutional clients, manage its reserves, and provide fiduciary custody of digital assets. The roles of issuer and custodian are expected to shift from the current exclusive operator, BitGo Bank & Trust.
The approval is still preliminary; the company must meet several conditions, including maintaining a Tier 1 capital of at least $20 million and establishing a liquidity reserve covering 180 days of operational expenses. The organizer and president of the bank is Zachary Whitcoff, a co-founder of World Liberty.
Out of seven responses received by the OCC, four raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest involving the Trump family, the Whitcoffs, and Emirati investors in World Liberty Financial.
Some speculated that the application might receive special treatment since the comptroller is appointed by the president. However, the office stated that its staff "acted in accordance with their statutory obligations and ethical commitments regarding the application."
Concerns related to WLFI token purchases and potential violations of the constitutional prohibition on receiving rewards were deemed "beyond the scope of review" by the OCC, as World Liberty Financial is not a party to the application. For the same reason, the office did not wait for the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to review the company’s ownership structure.
Three investors, including the Trump-affiliated DT Marks SC LLC, pledged not to interfere in the bank's management: no influence over appointments, personnel, or operational decisions, and no access to insider information. Eric Trump signed this document on behalf of the firm.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat and minority leader on the Senate Banking Committee, opposed the decision, calling it the most blatant case of self-dealing in American financial history and labeling Trump the first U.S. president to approve, control, and oversee his own bank.
This is the most brazen act of self-dealing our financial system has ever seen. I’m introducing a bill to stop this kind of unprecedented corruption.
— Elizabeth Warren (@warren.senate.gov) August 15, 2026
Warren, along with nine colleagues, announced the Ending Presidential Corruption in Banking Act, which would prohibit the Federal Reserve, OCC, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation from approving banking licenses, deposit insurance, and access to master accounts for applicants owned by the president, vice president, their spouses or children, members of Congress, or presidentially appointed officials.
Regulators will also be required to review all permissions granted after January 20, 2025, and revoke those involving entities that fall under the ban.
Notably, in July, Trump declared over $1.4 billion in income from cryptocurrency ventures, including nearly $800 million from World Liberty Financial.