INSIGHT - Trump crypto firm backs venture offering AI from restricted Chinese companies

A Reuters review found that 43 of the 90 models available through WorldClaw’s website, or nearly half, were developed by Alibaba, Baidu, Z.ai and other Chinese technology companies the Trump administration says pose risks to national security and intellectual property. WorldClaw also offers access to dozens of models from U.S. firms such as OpenAI and Anthropic.

There’s nothing illegal about World Liberty’s collaboration with WorldClaw or with WorldClaw’s relationships with the Chinese companies. And such Chinese models, which are typically less expensive, are gaining traction globally, including among U.S. tech companies.

Still, seven experts on Chinese technology, trade and government ethics said the business collaboration — and the potential profits for President Trump through World Liberty — runs counter to his administration’s stance towards Chinese tech companies.

"As the U.S. government tries to respond to the rise and threat of Chinese AI, it seems hypocritical to go out through WorldClaw to use these tools from China to try and make a bunch of money," said Sam Bresnick, a fellow at Georgetown University's Center for Security and Emerging Technology.

Reuters could not establish the details of World Liberty’s financial arrangements with WorldClaw or how much money the Trump family has made from crypto payments on the platform. The president’s two eldest sons have publicly promoted WorldClaw, and a World Liberty executive has worked as an advisor to WorldClaw.