Trump said he "does not know" CZ and avoided the $2 billion stablecoin trading controversy: I'm too busy.

During an interview with 60 Minutes, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed he “didn't know” CZ, despite having just signed a presidential pardon for CZ last month. When asked about the involvement of major CEX in a $2 billion transaction related to the stablecoin supported by his family, Trump evaded the question by saying he was “too busy.” This statement comes at a time when the CZ pardon case has sparked widespread controversy over conflicts of interest, and it has once again brought high attention to the Trump family's connections with the Crypto Assets sector.

Presidential Interview: Trump Claims Not to Know the Pardoned CZ

President Trump gave an unexpected answer in a television interview regarding the reasons for pardoning CZ and the identity of mainstream CEX founders, attributing the lawsuit against CZ to political persecution.

• Denial of Knowledge: When asked about the pardon for CZ, who pleaded guilty to violating anti-money laundering laws, Trump responded, “Okay, are you ready? I don’t know who he is… I only know he was sentenced to four months, and I heard that was a Biden 'political persecution (witch hunt).'”
• Pardon and Conviction: CZ pled guilty in 2023 to charges of failing to maintain effective anti-money laundering procedures (violating the Bank Secrecy Act) and was sentenced to four months in prison. Trump's pardon sparked huge political controversy last month.
• Avoiding the issue: Trump then shifted the topic to domestic issues, including the longest government shutdown crisis in U.S. history and criticism of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), demonstrating a reluctance to delve into issues related to Crypto Assets.

Avoiding $2 Billion Transaction Scrutiny: Family Crypto Assets Business and Conflict of Interest

The financial connection between mainstream CEX and the stablecoin business supported by Trump’s family is one of the most controversial focal points in this pardon event, but Trump has adopted an evasive strategy regarding this.

• Media questioning: Interviewer Norah O’Donnell relentlessly pointed out that the CEX “facilitated a $2 billion acquisition,” which is related to the stablecoin supported by the Trump family, World Liberty Financial.
• “Too busy”: Trump immediately dismissed the question, saying, “I know nothing about it because I am too busy.”
• Support for family business: When asked about family members involved in Crypto Assets, Trump stated that his sons “are running a business” and insisted that he is not personally involved. He also affirmed the Crypto Assets: “I am glad they (are involved in encryption) because it could be a great industry.”

Political and Legal Struggles: Lawyer Warren Dismisses CZ's Defamation Threats

CZ's pardon has sparked intense political reactions, with criticisms from Senator Elizabeth Warren and others leading to a legal clash.

• Corruption allegations: Senator Elizabeth Warren previously criticized Trump's pardoning of CZ on the X platform as “corruption” and accused CZ of “funding Trump's stablecoin and lobbying for the pardon.”
• Defamation Threats and Counterattacks: CZ's lawyer Teresa Goody Guillén demanded that Warren retract his statements, accusing him of damaging her client's reputation. However, Warren's lawyer Ben Stafford dismissed the defamation claims threat, insisting that Warren's statements were based on facts, namely that CZ pleaded guilty to violating anti-money laundering laws.
• Core controversy: The lawyer clarified that Warren's post did not claim that CZ was directly involved in money laundering, but rather that he violated anti-money laundering laws and cited information from media reports regarding the association of mainstream CEX with the World Liberty Financial stablecoin project.

Industry Impact: Leading CEX Seeks to Return to the US Market

CZ has been granted clemency, bringing new variables to the efforts of mainstream CEX to return to the US market.

• Returning to the U.S.: According to reports, mainstream CEXs are exploring ways to re-enter the U.S. market.
• Regulatory Outlook: CZ's amnesty, despite the significant political controversy and questions of conflicts of interest, may provide some convenience for the CEX to seek a new foothold in the U.S. regulatory environment.

Conclusion

President Trump claimed on camera that he “does not know” CZ, while avoiding sensitive questions related to the $2 billion family stablecoin transactions, which not only failed to quell public doubts about potential conflicts of interest in the pardon case but also further exacerbated the controversy of his remarks. As this CEX seeks to return to the U.S. market, and as American politicians become increasingly concerned about the connection between crypto assets and political donations, the boundaries of regulatory transparency and political influence in the crypto industry will become core topics for the foreseeable future.