Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) (left) and Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Getty Images | Reuters
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren will ask the Senate on Thursday to condemn and reverse the sale of 500,000 advanced artificial intelligence chips to the United Arab Emirates.
Warren’s resolution, shared exclusively with CNBC, follows last week’s Wall Street Journal report that United Arab Emirates Emir Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, also known as the “Head of Spies,” secretly purchased a 49% stake in the Trump family’s World Liberty Financial just days before President Donald Trump’s inauguration. The stock reportedly channeled approximately $187 million to Trump family entities.
The chip deal came just months after Mr. Tahnoun acquired World Liberty Financial, which sparked bribery allegations. Previous US administrations have warned against chip sales to the UAE, citing concerns that the chips would end up in the hands of China. Tahnoun’s own AI company, G42, will receive a chip as part of the deal.
“Why on earth would Donald Trump want to ship America’s cutting-edge chips to the UAE and China when America’s startups, universities and small businesses need them at home?” Warren is expected to ask on the floor as she introduces her resolution. The draft was seen by CNBC. “Well, we now know that the UAE resolved the issue a few months ago, just four days before President Trump’s inauguration, by secretly agreeing to funnel hundreds of millions of dollars into the Trump family’s crypto venture.”
President Donald Trump shakes hands with National Security Adviser Tahanun bin Zayed Al Nahyan next to UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (left) after arriving at Abu Dhabi International Airport on Air Force One, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Alex Brandon | AP
If approved on the Senate floor, the Senate would vote to “condemn President Donald Trump’s decision to allow the sale of advanced AI chips to the United Arab Emirates and call for its reversal.”
500,000 chips will be sent through chip trading. Nvidia’s Chips containing cutting-edge silicon manufactured by American companies are exported to the UAE every year. The United States is competing with China over its AI dominance and is fiercely guarding its technology.
Warren’s push to bring the resolution to a vote is likely to be blocked on the Senate floor, where any senator could vote against the bill. But Republicans have also warned about the spread of AI chips to China, which could lead to a difficult situation.
Warren, the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, is expected to say, “Mr. Trump is benefiting from decisions that make it easier for countries like China to obtain some of our most sensitive and advanced technology.”
“Congress needs to stand tall. We cannot allow our national security to be sold to the highest bidder,” he is expected to add.
The Trump administration denies any wrongdoing in connection with Tahnoun’s acquisition and the semiconductor deal.
Asked about the deal this week, President Trump said, “Well, I don’t know about that.”
