How much money President Trump and his family have made

Key takeaways

President Trump and his family have reportedly made nearly $4 billion off of the presidency, primarily due to business deals and income sources linked to his presidential status.
There is a significant ethical concern surrounding Trump's financial dealings as they highlight a potential erosion of the integrity expected from a U.S. president.
The Trump family has innovatively expanded their revenue through various channels, including merchandising, legal loopholes for campaign funds, and involvement in cryptocurrencies.
The discussion raises questions about the emoluments clause and whether Trump’s financial dealings represent a new precedent in the prominence of business and politics.

Summary

Trump's Financial Journey

The podcast dives into the financial evolution of President Donald Trump, particularly as he enters his second term. Initially in a tight financial position, Trump saw a dramatic shift within just six months of his second term, allegedly making almost $4 billion, largely from deals that directly benefited from his status as president.

The Shift in Business Ethics

David Kirkpatrick explores the ethical implications of Trump's business dealings during his presidency. Unlike his first term where he avoided foreign deals, in the second term, Trump capitalized on his presidency to generate income, leading to questions about the founding fathers' intentions in preventing corruption.

Revenue Streams and Innovations

The podcast outlines various revenue streams for Trump and his family, which include traditional merchandise sales, innovative campaign finance use for legal fees, and new ventures in media and cryptocurrencies, highlighting creative methods that Trump utilized to boost his family's income.

Criticism and Comparison

Fred Werthheimer provides insight into the broader implications of Trump's financial gains, arguing that no other president has benefited financially as much while in office. The discussion includes comparisons to other political figures, underscoring the uniqueness of Trump's situation.

Show notes

Before President Donald Trump’s first term, he was in a “tight spot” financially, according to New Yorker writer David Kirkpatrick. At the start of his second term, David says, Trump was in an “even tighter” spot. But after just six months into his second term, Trump’s financial situation started looking really good.

David has done a full accounting for what the family has been up to, and even using conservative estimates, David says Trump and his family have made almost $4 billion dollars “off of the presidency,” in just about a year.

Today on the show: we look at every new business and business deal and financial transaction that David says likely would not have happened if Trump wasn’t the president of the United States. And we stop at the most innovative ways Trump and his family have made all that.

Pre-order the Planet Money book and get a free gift. / Subscribe to Planet Money+

Listen free: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the NPR app or anywhere you get podcasts. ??Listen to our playlist on Federal Reserve independence here.

Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Our weekly Newsletter.

Today’s episode of Planet Money was hosted by Sarah Gonzalez and Mary Childs. It was produced by James Sneed, edited by Jess Jiang, and fact checked by Sierra Juarez. Robert Rodriguez engineered it. Alex Goldmark is our executive producer.

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy