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Gambling With America: A Look at Trump's Financial Gains Through Exploiting the Presidency [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-04-17
Personal Financial Benefits for Trump
The Trump administration's second term actions reveal patterns of personal enrichment and power consolidation. Just prior to the announcement of his second term run, Trump’s net worth was estimated at $2.3 billion; now is estimated at $7 billion (Forbes.) I have compiled a brief synopsis of the many ways Trump has and will continue to financially prosper from his political involvement.
1. Direct Financial Gain from Government and Campaign Spending
Trump's campaign spent large sums at Trump-owned businesses, particularly at Mar-a-Lago and Trump National Doral Miami, effectively converting political donations into business revenue
He promoted merchandise such as $59.99 Bibles, $399 sneakers, cologne, NFTs, all sold through personal accounts unrelated to the campaign—another direct profit avenue
He did not divest from any Trump Organization assets nor use an independent trust. Ethics experts noted his trust structure (where his son is trustee, but he is sole beneficiary) as falling short of ethical norms, enabling continued business gains while in office
Timed announcements, denouncements, and announcements of Tariffs to alter the stock market for his personal gain.
2. Enhanced Business Opportunities and Foreign Deals
Eric Trump confirmed the Trump Organization resumed international business deals, lifting a self-imposed prohibition from the first term. This created lucrative opportunities while Trump had global executive authority
New ventures included overseas deals involving state-affiliated entities in Saudi Arabia and Dubai, which raised national security concerns due to overlaps with U.S. foreign policy
The Trump administration repealed federal ethics rules that barred executive officials from accepting gifts or lobbying roles, opening pathways for pay-to-play dynamics between business and governance
Uses government funds to pay for meeting and event space rentals from Trump Properties.
3. Legal Protection and Elimination of Investigations
Upon inauguration, Trump issued a blanket pardon for January 6 rioters, some of whom had personal or political loyalty ties to him
He halted Department of Justice investigations against himself. The final report by Special Counsel Jack Smith was submitted but no charges were brought—ending major legal threats
Trump's DOJ dropped charges against political figures with ties to him, such as Eric Adams, with memos acknowledging improper motivations. DOJ officials resigned in protest, citing illicit deals
4. Media Suppression to Shield Personal Reputation
Trump used the FCC to investigate and threaten media outlets critical of him, including CBS, ABC, and NBC, while sparing Fox News. He personally influenced media access lists, bypassing press association procedures
He launched blacklists and lawsuits against specific reporters and networks, increasing his ability to control public narrative and retaliate against perceived enemies
5. Crypto and Truth Social Ventures
Trump transferred ownership of Truth Social to a trust where he remains the sole beneficiary. As a public company, its valuation surged due to Trump's presidency, substantially boosting his net worth
Trump declared plans to make the U.S. the "crypto capital of the world," and $TRUMP coin—a meme coin associated with him—was reported by Axios to make up 89% of his net worth, earning $51Million. His crypto policies, including halting SEC actions, directly benefited these ventures
6. Nepotism and Inner Circle Power Consolidation
Trump filled his administration with personal loyalists and business allies, such as Elon Musk overseeing federal layoffs and special security forces, creating power consolidation networks with blurred boundaries between private and public interests
Critics described the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) as a mechanism of state capture, allowing Trump to restructure federal operations in ways that insulated him and rewarded his allies
Conclusion
Trump's second term actions not only aligned closely with Project 2025's ideological goals but also laid a framework for extensive personal enrichment and legal insulation. By blurring the lines between private enterprise, public power, and political loyalty, Trump positioned his policies to provide:
Revenue streams through campaign and product branding
Protection from prosecution through DOJ interference and pardons
Expanded international business through loosened restrictions
The implementation mechanisms reflect a system tailored not only for ideological transformation but also for personal benefit and authority centralization.
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