What Next | Daily News and Analysis Presidency for Sale
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Sep 2, 2025 David Kirkpatrick, a staff writer at The New Yorker, dives into the shocking financial dealings of the Trump family during his presidency. He reveals how Trump generated billions through various ventures, from overseas golfing deals to cryptocurrency investments. The conversation touches on the blurred lines between business and politics, and the ethical questions that arise from such financial maneuvers. Kirkpatrick challenges listeners to consider whether these activities are distasteful or potentially illegal, provoking a deep reflection on presidential accountability.
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Scale Of Presidential Monetization
- David Kirkpatrick estimates $3.4 billion that Trump family made leveraging the presidency, a figure that grew as he dug deeper.
- He focused only on revenue that depended crucially on Trump's presidential status.
Broken Promise On Foreign Deals
- Kirkpatrick contrasts Trump's 2017 pledge to avoid foreign deals with the current push into overseas deals led by Trump Jr.'s comments.
- Mar-a-Lago membership fees and traffic surged, with initiation rising to reportedly $1 million from under $100,000.
Mar-a-Lago As A Political Asset
- Mar-a-Lago became more valuable because members pay for access to the president and his circle.
- Kirkpatrick attributes roughly $125 million in additional profits from Mar-a tied to Trump's campaigns and presidency.