Trump Denies Knowing CZ, Highlights Crypto Role By His Sons

US President Donald Trump defended his pardon of Binance co-founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, claiming he doesn’t personally know the crypto govt and dismissing criticism that the transfer was politically motivated.

Trump claimed that he doesn’t know CZ in an interview with CBS Information’ 60 Minutes on Sunday, reiterating his previous claims after pardoning him in late October.

“OK, are you prepared? I don’t know who he’s,” Trump replied when requested concerning the pardon within the interview, including that he had heard that CZ’s case was a “Biden witch hunt.”

Trump’s remarks concerning the former Binance CEO, who admitted to facilitating money laundering in 2023, adopted a sequence of allegations suggesting possible conflicts of interest arising from Binance’s ties with crypto ventures linked to the Trump household.

“Pay-for-play” grill

Pressed by CBS anchor Norah O’Donnell on experiences that Binance facilitated a $2 billion stablecoin buy tied to Trump-backed World Liberty Financial (WLFI) forward of the pardon, Trump dismissed the suggestion.

“Nicely, right here’s the factor, I do know nothing about it as a result of I’m too busy doing the opposite,” the president mentioned.

After O’Donnell interrupted, “However he acquired a pardon,” Trump replied:

“Norah, I can solely inform you this — my sons are into it. And I’m glad they’re, as a result of it’s most likely an excellent trade, crypto. I believe it’s good. You understand, they’re working a enterprise; they’re not in authorities […] I’m happy with them, I’m targeted on this.”

“I do know nothing concerning the man, apart from I hear he’s a sufferer of weaponization by the federal government,” Trump mentioned of CZ, referring to what he referred to as a “corrupt authorities” beneath the Biden administration.

Associated: Elizabeth Warren rebuffs CZ defamation threat as ‘without merit’

“I solely care about one factor,” Trump continued, saying that he needs to “make crypto nice for America,” and including:

“Crypto has turned out to be an enormous trade, if you wish to name it that. And I’m very proud to say we’re far forward of China and everyone else. And China is moving into it in a really massive means proper now.”

“In the event you go after folks, you’re going to kill that trade, and that may be very unhealthy,” the president concluded.