In February, the US Securities and Exchange Commission requested a pause on an ongoing lawsuit against Sun, whom the agency had charged with market manipulation. In May, Sun’s investments earned him a seat at an exclusive gala dinner held at the Trump National Golf Club near Washington, DC, attended by Trump himself. The following month, in a post on X, Eric Trump referred to Sun as a “great friend.”
Sun has heavily implied that he intends to use his relationship with the Trump family to advance the interests of Liberland as it attempts to secure formal recognition by sovereign states.
“As you know, I personally invest $30 million into the Trump crypto project World Liberty Financial,” Sun said in January, as he outlined plans for a second term as Liberland prime minister. (Sun would later claim to have invested an additional $45 million in WLFI.) “In this new administration, we have lots of allies, from the new envoy to the Middle East [Steve Witkoff] and also the new minister of commerce [Howard Lutnick] and other ministers in office.”
Because many countries follow the lead of the United States, Sun reasoned, Liberland stood to achieve a “big breakthrough in diplomatic relationships” if it could ingratiate itself with the Trump administration.
“This is a very precious opportunity for Liberland in 2025, to have a good relationship with the current US government,” said Sun. “I think President Trump is a bold man. He also likes to do unprecedented moves.”
Though generally tight-lipped, Jedlička has insinuated that Sun is making inroads at the White House on behalf of Liberland.
“He spent quite a few days in the White House. I cannot really tell you the details of these things. It’s all too hot,” claims Jedlička. “In general, his task is to help us get Liberland recognized and up and running. I’m happy he is not taking it lightly.”
The Croatian authorities have evicted settlers from Liberland more than 25 times in the two years since I visited, Jedlička estimates. In the winter of 2023, a swelling of the Danube flooded the whole of Liberland, forcing settlers into house boats.
The territory remains almost completely undeveloped and unoccupied: a blank parcel of forestland with a small island at its edge, framed by a sandy beach that picks up driftwood from the river.
But since this spring, Jedlička claims, fortunes have improved, and Liberland settlers have been left alone for long enough to build a few makeshift structures.
In July, Jedlička’s office published a press release celebrating the opening of a beach bar and treehouse in Liberland. On Monday, Liberland will host the afterparty for its national chess tournament.
“People never left Liberland. They always lived there in some shape or form, but not in the best conditions—mostly kind of camping,” claims Jedlička. “But the last four months are very good. I have to give [Croatia] credit.”
Last week, I observed a meeting of the Liberland cabinet, which takes place every Monday over video conference. Sun typically joins, Jedlička claims, but this being summer only a handful of officials—the secretaries of finance and technology, the vice president, and the president—were in attendance.
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