A majority of Americans believe it is inappropriate for President Trump and his family to profit from cryptocurrency while he occupies the White House, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll.
The survey, conducted August 14-17, found that 63 percent of respondents said it is inappropriate for the president and his family to earn money from digital assets. Only 32 percent disagreed, with 5 percent offering no opinion. The poll included 1,166 respondents and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
The findings come as Senate Democrats have escalated scrutiny of Trump's financial ties to the crypto industry. In July, five Democratic senators — Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Gary Peters of Michigan, Dick Durbin of Illinois, and Ron Wyden of Oregon — called for probes into the national security implications of the president's holdings.
Their concerns were sparked by Trump's annual financial disclosure, released earlier this summer, which revealed he earned approximately $594 million from World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture he launched with his sons two years ago. The disclosure also showed an additional $635 million in income tied to his meme coin.
The senators specifically pointed to the fact that more than half of World Liberty Financial is owned by unspecified "third parties," raising questions about potential foreign influence or conflicts of interest. The group urged ethics and intelligence officials to investigate whether these financial arrangements pose a risk to U.S. national security.
Trump has dismissed the criticism, insisting his crypto profits are entirely legal. In a CNBC interview in early July, he said, "I could know about it. I didn't. There's nothing illegal. There's nothing wrong with it."
The poll's results underscore a broader public unease with the president's business dealings while in office, a theme that has dogged his administration. Critics have argued that Trump's continued involvement in his business empire, now including digital assets, blurs ethical lines and invites undue influence.
Supporters, however, contend that the president is entitled to earn income from legitimate ventures and that his financial disclosures provide sufficient transparency. The debate is likely to intensify as the 2026 midterm elections approach, with Democrats eager to make ethics a central campaign issue.
This is not the first time Trump's financial entanglements have drawn fire. His refusal to divest from his businesses upon taking office has been a recurring controversy, and his recent forays into cryptocurrency have added a new dimension to those concerns. As Trump's approval ratings dip, the public's discomfort with his crypto profits could further erode his standing.
The president's allies point to a mixed record in recent primaries as evidence that his political influence may be waning, though his base remains loyal. Meanwhile, Senate Democrats are vowing to keep the pressure on, with Warren and her colleagues calling for full transparency and accountability.
As the administration navigates these controversies, the poll serves as a clear signal that a significant portion of the electorate views the president's financial activities with suspicion. Whether that translates into political consequences remains to be seen, but the issue is unlikely to fade from the headlines anytime soon.
