Donald Trump has denied profiteering as US President after a financial disclosure revealed his income quadrupled to at least $2.2 billion during his first year back in office. The 927-page annual filing for 2025 showed the Republican president earned $1.4 billion in cryptocurrency, including from his own $TRUMP coin, which he has promoted widely while in office.
Sources of income
Trump also received $635 million in royalties from Celebration Coins, the entity believed to be behind $TRUMP. Additionally, he made over $500 million from World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency business co-founded by his sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump. The total income was nearly four times the $622 million he earned in 2024, before his presidency.
The disclosure has led to accusations of unethical behaviour and conflicts of interest. Richard Painter, former chief White House ethics lawyer under George W. Bush, told the BBC: 'Of course it's a conflict of interest.'
Unprecedented for a president
Presidential historian Barbara Perry from the University of Virginia's Miller Center said there was 'no precedent' for Trump's actions. 'This is the big distinction between Trump and his family and other presidents,' she explained. 'Making money hand over fist in office, it's not illegal but it is unethical. Most (past) presidents didn't want to do that.'
Despite the figures, Trump has steadfastly denied any wrongdoing. Speaking to reporters, he said: 'I don't get involved in my personal (finances), we have funds that run my money. I've made a lot of money before I became president, and they invest my money, and I don't talk to them.'
White House defends actions
White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly also dismissed the claims. 'Neither the President nor his family has ever engaged – or will ever engage – in conflicts of interest,' she said. 'All actions by President Trump and his administration are taken in the best interest of the American people – and any so-called "reporters" pushing otherwise are recycling the same, tired, false narrative that Democrats and the legacy media have been pushing for a decade.'
As with his previous term, Trump handed control of the Trump Organization to his sons before his election, with the company stating he would not be involved in day-to-day dealings. Eric Trump insisted the firm would follow 'robust ethical standards' throughout his father's second term. Traditionally, presidents place business interests in a blind trust and have no involvement until leaving office.
