By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent
More than any president in modern history, Donald Trump has turned the White House into a source of personal wealth, with a scale of profiteering that experts say eclipses previous administrations—and with little political consequence. “I’ve been watching and writing about corruption for 50 years, and my head is still spinning,” said Michael Johnston, professor emeritus at Colgate University and author of several books on corruption. Investigations by multiple news outlets, including the New York Times, Bloomberg News, PBS, and Open Secrets, reveal that since returning to power, Trump and his family have significantly expanded their business empire, using the presidency as leverage to capitalize on a level of influence and impunity that has redrawn the boundaries of acceptable conduct in Washington. From cryptocurrency schemes and high-dollar memberships to foreign gifts and real estate ventures, the Trump family has raked in hundreds of millions. Since his reelection, Trump has reportedly doubled his net worth. The Trump name has driven more than $10 billion in real estate transactions and generated over $500 million from a single cryptocurrency venture. His newly formed $TRUMP coin was launched just before taking office in January, with access to private investor dinners sold based on personal investment—not campaign contributions.
Bloomberg News reported that Trump’s ventures now span financial services, gun sales, and drone part manufacturing. His family members have secured corporate appointments, including at least seven executive roles for Donald Trump Jr. The brazenness has raised alarm among longtime observers. “By conventional Washington standards, the still-young Trump administration is a candidate for the most brazen use of government office in American history,” wrote Peter Baker of the New York Times, citing the potential to eclipse even Watergate and the Teapot Dome scandal. One of the more glaring examples occurred recently when Jeff Bezos reportedly agreed to finance a promotional film for Melania Trump following a dinner at Mar-a-Lago. The $28 million deal—280 times the amount Hillary Clinton once earned from a 1980s cattle futures investment that sparked weeks of scandal—has gone largely unnoticed in Washington.
In another instance, Qatar handed over a luxury aircraft valued at $200 million, officially donated to the Air Force but intended for Trump’s use, including his future presidential library. Unlike his predecessors, Trump has refused to divest or establish a blind trust for his business interests. Instead, he retains control of a family-run trust that allows him to profit directly from decisions made in office. According to Open Secrets, special interests have adapted accordingly—hosting fundraisers and galas at Trump-owned properties, effectively turning campaign events into revenue streams for the president. What once would have prompted congressional hearings and federal investigations now barely moves the political needle. Trump has replaced watchdogs and ethics officials with loyalists and ensured that allies lead the Justice Department, the FBI, and other key agencies. With a Republican-controlled Congress declining to investigate, Democrats and watchdog groups have found it nearly impossible to hold Trump accountable. “There will be no official investigations because Mr. Trump has made sure of it,” Baker wrote.
