The Brian Lehrer Show A Tally of Trump's Profits
Sep 5, 2025
David D. Kirkpatrick, a Staff writer for The New Yorker, dives into the financial gains of President Donald Trump during his time in office. He reveals how Trump profited significantly from various ventures, including $4.5 billion from projects like a luxury jet from Qatar and multiple crypto initiatives. Kirkpatrick discusses the ethical implications of a businessman-turned-president, raising concerns about corruption and public trust. The complexity of financial ties between politics and cryptocurrency adds an intriguing layer to the conversation.
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Trump's Presidency Generated Billions
- David Kirkpatrick estimates Trump has made about $3.4 billion from presidency-related ventures, now roughly $4.5 billion after new crypto deals.
- Much of the recent increase stems from crypto token sales and related financial engineering tied to Trump family firms.
Why Crypto Suits The Trump Family
- Kirkpatrick explains why crypto is especially lucrative for the Trumps: presidential endorsement both builds trust and shapes regulatory outcomes.
- Trump-connected companies converted meme-stock value into $3.4 billion of assets including $2.4 billion of Bitcoin.
Meme Stock Turned Into Crypto Holdings
- Trump Media (Truth Social's parent) raised cash and bought large amounts of Bitcoin despite Truth Social's weak economics.
- Kirkpatrick values Trump's 42% stake at roughly $1.3 billion from those assets.