White House grants UAE access to advanced AI chips for G42

Approximately two weeks after the World Liberty Financial investment was announced in May 2025, the White House agreed to grant the UAE access to hundreds of thousands of advanced AI computer chips — among the world's most powerful and scarce — primarily manufactured by U.S. companies including Nvidia. Many of the chips were set to go to G42, a sprawling technology firm personally controlled by Sheikh Tahnoon. The agreement came despite national security concerns within the administration that the chips could ultimately be shared with China. David Sacks, Trump's AI and crypto czar, was a key figure in brokering the chip negotiations; he held a White House ethics waiver allowing him to participate despite concerns from some administration officials about his active role as a venture capitalist. Steve Witkoff, still financially interested in World Liberty Financial, also advocated for granting the Emirates chip access during this same period. The deal's final details were still under discussion as of the article's publication.