US President Donald Trump has defended earning an estimated $1.2 billion from his family’s cryptocurrency ventures while serving in office, insisting that his financial gains are no different from those enjoyed by many Americans benefiting from a booming economy.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday before boarding a new Air Force One aircraft gifted by Qatar, Trump dismissed criticism that he was using the presidency to enrich himself.
“You know why I’m profiting? Because the stock market’s going up. Everybody’s profiting,” Trump said.
Responding to concerns over a potential conflict of interest, the president maintained that his personal finances are managed independently through blind trusts.
“I don’t get involved in my personal finances. We have funds that run my money,” he said. “I’ve made a lot of money before I became president, and they invest my money. I don’t talk to them.”
Trump also attributed his wealth to his long-standing business career, despite the latest earnings being linked to cryptocurrency ventures launched after his return to the White House.
“I don’t know if I’ve had a better career in politics or business, but I had a great career in business,” he said. “We’re all profiting. I’m profiting because I have a lot of money and a lot of cash.”
According to financial disclosure documents released on Tuesday by the US Office of Government Ethics, Trump earned nearly $550 million in 2025 through his ties to World Liberty Financial (WLF), a cryptocurrency startup co-founded in September 2024 by his sons and the son of his Middle East special envoy, Steve Witkoff.
The 927-page disclosure also revealed that Trump received approximately $635 million in royalties under a licensing agreement connected to the $TRUMP cryptocurrency token, which was launched just hours before his inauguration in January 2025.
The crypto ventures have significantly boosted Trump’s wealth. According to Forbes, his net worth has risen from $2.3 billion in 2024 to approximately $6.5 billion in 2026, largely driven by the performance of his digital asset businesses.
Since returning to office, Trump has championed policies aimed at easing regulations on the cryptocurrency industry, a move that has contributed to rising digital asset prices.
The White House defended the administration’s approach, stating that Trump has “proudly made the United States the crypto capital of the world.”
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