ABC News Daily How much is Trump profiting from the presidency?
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Oct 12, 2025 John Lyons, ABC's Americas Editor and investigative journalist, dives deep into Donald Trump’s financial gains since his return to the White House. He recounts a tense exchange with Trump over his wealth and explores how the lack of formal conflict rules affects presidential finances. Lyons reveals Trump’s pivot to cryptocurrency through the Trump family platform and discusses the implications of meme coins and investor dissatisfaction. The conversation raises crucial questions about how Trump's business interests might influence US foreign policy.
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Unclear Wealth Growth Raises Questions
- John Lyons highlights difficulty measuring Trump's exact wealth and notes Forbes' jump from $3.9bn to $7.3bn.
- That rapid increase raises questions about how presidency and private wealth may intersect.
Testy Marine One Exchange
- John Lyons describes asking Trump directly as he walked to Marine One and receiving a terse reply: "Quiet."
- The exchange showed Trump's impatience and refusal to detail his post-election financial gains.
Presidency Lacks Formal Conflict Rules
- The US president is not legally bound by the same conflict-of-interest rules as other officials.
- Lyons argues this legal gap makes norms and conventions the main guardrail, which can be eroded.