President Trump on Thursday dismissed criticism that his family profited from his presidency, saying that nearly any business they would invest in would pose a conflict of interest.
“You have a conflict. Almost anything they do,” Mr. Trump said. “So it’s pretty tough in that sense. I tell my kids, stay away from as much as you can stay away from. But they also have a life, you know.”
He said the presidency is “so powerful, so big” that critics can always find a conflict of interest when his family does business.
“If they buy a cupcake company, well, the energy to make the cupcakes is, you know, sort of like, ‘How’s my energy policy?” the president said in an interview with CNBC.
Mr. Trump has weathered criticism since his financial disclosures on Tuesday revealed that he raked in $2 billion last year. His family’s crypto venture, World Liberty Financial, is managed by his sons Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. The business also includes the son of special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Crypto investments alone generated a $1 billion windfall, including more than $526.8 million in proceeds from tokens sold by World Liberty Financial and more than $290 million in income from cryptocurrency wallets linked to World Liberty.
SEE ALSO: Trump’s financial disclosures reveal windfall for the president
Mr. Trump reported $205 million in proceeds from stablecoin investments, including sales of holdings in a company dubbed Stablecoin Holdco, which is associated with World Liberty Financial.
The disclosures prompted accusations that he’s using his office to line the pockets of his family members.
Mr. Trump said he forgoes his presidential salary of roughly $400,000 a year.
“I gave up my salary. I don’t get a salary,” he said, adding the presidency is a “bigger purpose” than making money.
The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board published an op-ed Wednesday blasting Mr. Trump and his family for “cashing in on the presidency.”
“Americans tell pollsters they don’t think they are getting ahead financially. But President Trump and his family are having no trouble, judging from his 2025 financial disclosure report released Tuesday,” the newspaper’s editorial board wrote.
“The Trump clan is cashing in on the Presidency in big and sketchy ways. The 927-page report shows Mr. Trump made some $1.4 billion last year from crypto alone. Yowzers,” it said.
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