President Donald Trump on Wednesday sought to downplay his newly released personal financial disclosures, which revealed he had earned over $1 billion in revenue from cryptocurrency sales and other business interests. Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews before departing for North Dakota, Trump insisted he has no direct hand in managing his personal finances.
“I don’t get involved in my personal. We have funds that run my money,” Trump said, when asked what message the eye-popping figures send to average Americans grappling with inflation and economic uncertainty.
Pressed on whether he personally benefits from these ventures, the president replied, “I made a lot of money before I became president.” He explained that the financial institutions overseeing his assets maintain a “blind account” and that he “purposefully” avoids any contact with those handling his funds.
“They invest my money. I don’t talk to them. I don’t even speak to them,” Trump added during the informal gaggle. “So, I have many people, I don’t know what they call them, closed accounts or something, you put their money and that’s it. I don’t talk to them. They’re big institutions, and they run it.”
The disclosures, released Tuesday, show Trump raked in more than $500 million from World Liberty Financial, the cryptocurrency venture he co-founded with his sons Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. Both sons stood beside the president as he fielded questions on Wednesday.
World Liberty Financial was launched in the fall of 2024, when Trump was still a presidential candidate, as part of his broader embrace of the crypto industry. The venture has drawn steady criticism during Trump’s second term, with opponents accusing the president and his family of blurring the lines between public service and private profit.
When asked about critics who argue he is profiting from the presidency itself, Trump pivoted to the broader economy. “Everybody is profiting,” he said, pointing to rising stock markets as evidence that his policies are benefiting all Americans, not just himself.
The president’s trip to North Dakota comes amid a busy political week. In related developments, Trump heads to North Dakota as a socialist upset shakes Colorado primaries, highlighting the shifting dynamics within both parties. Meanwhile, Trump's SAVE Act push divides GOP, risking midterm unity as the party navigates internal tensions over fiscal policy.
Ethics watchdogs have seized on the disclosure figures, noting that Trump’s continued business interests while in office create unprecedented conflicts. The president’s assertion that his finances are managed blindly has done little to quell those concerns, especially given the family ties to World Liberty Financial.
“The president’s claims of ignorance ring hollow when his sons are visibly involved in the day-to-day operations of a venture that has directly benefited from his political rise,” said one former government ethics lawyer, who spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid retaliation.
As Trump continues to defend his financial arrangements, the debate over presidential conflicts of interest is unlikely to fade. With the 2026 midterms on the horizon, Democrats are already signaling they will make Trump’s business entanglements a central campaign issue.
