How Trump has used the presidency to benefit himself and his allies
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump I tried to create a close environment $1.8 billion fund This could be passed on to his supporters to settle a lawsuit he filed against his own government – he might even claim that he “gave up too much money to allow” this to happen.
After collecting the reactions Congress And courtsBut the White House rethinking fund. This potentially means that the case and the possibility that the president could still make money could come up again.
Trump has not hesitated to turn the presidency into a source of massive personal gain, involving himself in everything from business sales deals to crypto ventures to high-dollar political and official events at his properties.
Asked about the possibility of the president becoming self-governing, the White House called such proposals “the same, tired narrative that Democrats have been pushing against President Trump, his family, and his administration for a decade.”
“President Trump acts solely in the best interests of the American people, which is why they overwhelmingly re-elected him to this office despite years of lies and false accusations against him and his businesses by the fake news media,” spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement. he said. “There is no conflict of interest.”
Here are some key ways Trump has reaped rewards for himself, his children, and his allies in his second term:
He sues his government and makes deals that support his family
Last year, the president sought $230 million in damages from the Justice Department. FBI searching his Mar-a-Lago property in Florida as part of the investigation into whether he took Secret recordings from the White House.
In January of this year, Trump, his two eldest sons and the family’s company, the Trump Organization, 10 billion dollar lawsuit filed A lawsuit has been filed against the IRS and Treasury Department after a former IRS contractor illegally leaked Trump’s tax returns.
In an effort to resolve these cases, the Trump administration agreed to: $1.776 billion in taxpayer funds It will be distributed to people who believe they were targeted for politically motivated prosecution by past administrations, including Trump supporters imprisoned for attacking police. Invading the US Capitol in 2021.
Following the reaction of even some congressional Republicans, the Justice Department now says: will fit With the decision to temporarily block the fund.
But there was less noise about the other part of the agreement that allowed the government to do so. release pending IRS audits To Trump and his relatives.
Separately, the Air Force agreed to purchase interceptor drones from Powerus, a Florida-based company. Linked to Trump’s family. And ProPublica reported The White House’s direct involvement preceded the Pentagon’s agreement. lend Donald Trump Jr. $620 million to Vulcan Elements, a North Carolina-based startup affiliated with .
Trump Organization spokeswoman Kimberly Benza denied there was any ethical conflict between the White House and the family business.
“The Trump Organization operates completely separate from the presidency and fully complies with all ethics and conflict of interest laws,” Benza said in a statement. he said.
As for Powerus, Benza said Eric Trump is a “passive investor in a vehicle that, among many other things, has a stake in the company” but is not involved in the decision-making or management of the company.
Can help with trading in financial markets
Trump has traded stocks and bonds in ways unprecedented for a sitting U.S. president.
Office of Government Ethics applications to show Trump made more than 3,600 stock trades in the first quarter of 2026 alone; the value of these transactions was well over $100 million.
Many of these trades involved significant stock purchases of technology and artificial intelligence giants such as Nvidia, Dell, Oracle and Palantir before the Trump administration took policy measures. choosing these companies.
Similar disclosures last year show that Trump bought more than $300 million in bonds issued by companies, states and municipalities even as he repeatedly pressured the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates; It’s a move that could help increase the value of his holdings.
Crypto startups
Trump’s family has made huge profits in the crypto sector since his re-election. An important factor in this was the $TRUMP meme coin, which was announced the day before Trump took office. About 220 of the best investors he was later invited to a private reception with the president.
Trump’s family also owns a majority stake World Freedom FinanceA crypto company co-founded with the president’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and is run by his son Zach. your own stablecoinUSD1 and Trump experienced a huge rise just before he took office, when an investment fund affiliated with the United Arab Emirates bought a large share.
MGX, an Abu Dhabi state-backed investment company, later pledged to use $2 billion worth of USD1 to buy shares. BinanceIt’s a move that further strengthens World Liberty Financial, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.
Trump-branded abundance
Beyond the digital world, numerous companies are paying to license the president’s name, from Bibles to guitars, from sneakers to watches, perfumes and gold shoes. mobile phone.
Trump promoted many such products on social media, especially during the 2024 campaign, but they also featured prominently in the White House.
When French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited last summer, Trump showed them a merch room outside the Oval Office filled with items for sale on his website. A few months later, a video emerged of Trump spraying the “Victory 47” cologne and perfume bottles he gifted to Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House.
The president displayed hats bearing the words “Trump 2028” on the Resolute Desk during a meeting with congressional Democrats last year. And during a televised program cabinet meeting In May, every seat had a red hat commemorating America’s victory. 250th anniversary.
Each hat sells for $55 on Trump’s website.
Paydays for the president’s estates
The Republican National Committee and various political groups associated with Trump and the GOP have held fundraisers and political events at Mar-a-Lago, as well as at Trump’s estate in Bedminster, New Jersey, and at golf clubs in Doral, Florida, and Sterling, Virginia.
LIVE Golf league, controlled by The Saudi Public Investment Fund, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, held events in Doral. Trump will host the G20 summit in November.
That means world leaders, support staff, corporate executives, journalists and many others will pay to join the Trump Organization, which purchased Doral in 2012. The president has already tried to deflect criticism of his self-interest over the summit, saying government participants will be billed “at cost” and that “We’re not going to make any money from this.”
Meanwhile, conservative groups and Republican committees at least $26 million It has been at Trump properties since 2015. The actual figure is likely higher because some groups do not have to detail their spending.
Renovation and construction projects
Qatar gave Trump a $400 million jet that he plans to use as Air Force One and keep in his presidential library after he leaves office. gift passed extensive taxpayer-funded rebuilding and safety upgrades lawmakers estimate that figure could exceed $1 billion.
Trump has also ordered numerous renovation projects that will leave a mark on Washington while passing the costs on to taxpayers.
insisted for a long time wealthy donors he would pay the price 400 million dollar ballroom HE Demolished to build the East Wing of the White House – just to call $1 billion in federal funds He said the military and Secret Service wanted security improvements as part of the project.
At least $15 million of public funds will be spent ceremonial arch Trump wants it built at the entrance to the nation’s capital. The National Park Service is also paying $13.1 million to the contractor to handle the Trump administration renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
