{
  "id": 18553878,
  "title": "Middle East could have big role in Democrats' Trump corruption inquiry",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/middle-east-could-have-big-role-in-democrats-trump-corruption-inquiry-18553878",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-06T19:16:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "DW English (Top Stories)",
    "slug": "dw-english-top-stories",
    "url": "https://www.dw.com/en/middle-east-could-have-big-role-in-democrats-trump-corruption-inquiry/a-79877104?maca=en-rss-en-top-1022-xml-mrss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent investigation by the Washington-based Arab Center suggests that the Middle East may play a significant role in the upcoming Democratic Party's investigation of corruption allegations involving the Trump administration and the Trump family. After the recent midterm elections, Democrats declared their intention to investigate corruption, with Amy Hawthorne of the Arab Center stating that cases involving the Middle East will be their top targets.\n\nAccording to Brian Katulis, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, Middle Eastern countries and businesses have directly contributed to the financial success of Trump's family businesses, far more than any other region. In 2025, Gulf entities paid around $300 million to the president's businesses, with a significant portion coming from the sale of a stake in a cryptocurrency company, World Liberty Financial.\n\nThe UAE, led by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE's national security advisor and brother of the UAE's president, also played a key role in these deals. In January 2026, shortly before Trump's inauguration, a large portion of World Liberty Financial was sold to an investment firm backed by Sheikh Tahnoon.\n\nMoreover, Trump's reported income from 2025 was nearly triple what he earned in the previous year, with a substantial portion coming from the sale of this cryptocurrency stake. Critics allege a connection between these deals and the Middle East, but the Trump administration denies any wrongdoing.\n\nFurthermore, ethics watchdogs have raised concerns about Trump's business dealings with Gulf real estate developers, who have close ties to their respective governments and royal families. These developers have agreed to build Trump-branded properties in the Middle East, generating significant income for Trump's businesses. There have also been allegations of potential conflicts of interest, as some of these Gulf states and developers were pursuing major US investments and seeking government permits.",
  "summary": "After their victory in the US midterm elections, the Democrats have promised to investigate corruption in the Trump administration. Critics say the president's Middle East deals is an area they should focus on.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
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        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/can-trump-turn-midterm-defeat-into-iran-breakthrough",
        "published": "2026-11-06T15:27:13.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Nikkei Asia",
        "title": "Democrats' midterm gains hang over data centers, Japanese US investment",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/democrats-midterm-gains-hang-over-data-centers-japanese-us-investment",
        "published": "2026-11-06T15:29:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "Trump's Canada tariffs may be Democrats' first legislative target after midterm success - report",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/trumps-canada-tariffs-may-be-democrats-first-legislative-target-after",
        "published": "2026-11-06T18:32:51.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}