Changpeng Zhao says he met Eric Trump but denies discussing pardon

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao stated in an interview with Fox News that while he met Eric Trump, the U.S. president's second son, at a Bitcoin conference in Abu Dhabi, they had no negotiations or discussions regarding a presidential pardon or World Liberty Financial (WLFI). Zhao called claims linking the meeting to WLFI and his pardon completely baseless, emphasizing that no deal or discussion occurred and that he has no business relationship with WLFI. The comments follow lobbying allegations that emerged last month after President Donald Trump pardoned Zhao. This week, President Trump said he does not know who Zhao is and has never met him, framing the pardon as a move to keep the U.S. crypto industry competitive. The White House also issued an official statement saying the pardon underwent a thorough review.