【HA Viewpoint】”President Trump’s personal wealth growth is unprecedented in modern history.” That was the headline on the Washington Post’s website on the 1st. That day, major U.S. media outlets widely reported that, according to mandatory financial disclosure laws, the White House released Trump’s annual personal financial report. In his first year back in the White House, he earned at least $2.2 billion, including $1.4 billion from cryptocurrency alone. The New York Times noted the staggering amount indicates significant gains after his return, suggesting policies enacted under his administration may have benefited not only himself and his family but also close friends, senior officials, and associates, raising potential conflicts of interest. In response, Trump claimed he “never touches” his financial management, attributing his wealth growth to “the stock market going up and fund managers managing my money well, just like any American with a retirement fund.” The White House added in a statement: “All of these (criticisms) are stale, false narratives that Democrats and the media have been pushing for a decade.”
President Donald Trump’s promoted “Trump Coin.” (Image source: Visual China)
Cryptocurrency is the top money-making tool
According to the Washington Post, the latest mandatory financial disclosure documents show Trump reaped a “stunning windfall” in his first year back in the White House. The Office of Government Ethics released annual financial filings revealing Trump’s actual total income in 2025 was at least $2.2 billion, far exceeding his roughly $622 million in 2024 when he wasn’t in office.
The 900-page documents show cryptocurrency is Trump’s primary money-maker. Reuters reported Trump earned over $1.4 billion from crypto in 2025. He launched his namesake “Trump Coin” just before returning to the White House, pocketing about $635 million from sales. Reuters estimates that since Trump’s return, his family has made at least $2.3 billion from crypto-related ventures.
The Wall Street Journal reported that besides crypto investment income, Trump made over $620 million from real estate, hotels, and golf courses. His investment accounts also ballooned last year, surging from $237 million to over $858 million. Documents show Trump made more than 20,000 stock trades last year, averaging over 50 per day. His accounts heavily bought tech stocks, especially the “Magnificent Seven” U.S. tech giants.
The Associated Press noted Trump also opened several new wealth streams. He earned tens of millions from purchasing new overseas properties, with many governments eager to curry favor with a president who holds sway over tariffs. He also made $86.5 million by suing media companies. Even small items brought in big money — he made millions selling various “Trump-branded” merchandise, with his “Make America Great Again” books outselling the Bible in the U.S. annually. Bloomberg estimates Trump’s personal wealth has jumped from $2.3 billion in 2024 to $7.08 billion in 2026.
White House responds to criticism
According to the Washington Post, critics argue that the Trump administration sets crypto regulations while he and his family rake in billions from it, creating serious potential conflicts of interest. Over the past year, Trump has pushed “World Liberty Financial Token” and “Trump Coin.” When Trump Coin first launched, its price briefly hit $74 but has since crashed to $1.68, a 97% drop. World Liberty Financial Token also fell about 80%, leaving other investors “wiped out.” The New York Times reported that Trump Coin caused losses for 810,000 investors, totaling over $2 billion.
In response to Trump’s surging wealth, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren on the 1st called for accelerating legislation to stop such behavior. Warren said, “The crypto bill coming to the Senate must prevent the president and his family from profiting. Otherwise, it will only fuel blatant corruption.” Illinois Lieutenant Governor Stratton, a Democrat, said, “Trump uses the presidency to make billions while American families struggle to meet basic needs.” California Governor Gavin Newsom argued the documents clearly show how Trump plays the crypto game: “He gets richer, while his followers get played.”
On the 1st, Trump dismissed accusations that he “uses the presidency for personal gain,” casually telling reporters that his wealth surge was due to the U.S. economy booming under his leadership, driving stock markets to record highs.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said in a statement that Trump “has driven innovation and created economic opportunities for all Americans through executive orders, supporting legislation, and other policies to make the U.S. the world’s crypto capital.” The statement added, “The president always acts solely in the public’s best interest. He and his family have never been involved in, nor will they be involved in, any conflicts of interest,” and reiterated that “all these (criticisms) are stale, false narratives from Democrats and the media over the past decade.”
“A 250-year-old America needs treatment”
U.S. newspaper Libération reported on the 1st that in American history, most presidents waited until leaving office to profit. Bill Clinton earned over $75 million from speeches in his first decade out of office. George W. Bush added about $50 million after leaving. But Trump’s scale of profit while in office is unprecedented, even by American standards.
Rolling Stone magazine noted that this year marks America’s 250th anniversary, yet “the U.S. political system is already terminally ill.” “America suffers from an incurable disease, corroded by money politics: the richest 1% of households own one-third of the nation’s wealth.” The wealthy often pay no taxes, while ordinary Americans struggle to afford basic necessities. “This disease is deep-rooted: money buys connections, connections buy influence, and influence rewrites the rules. At 250, America doesn’t need a eulogy — it needs treatment.”
