US President Donald Trump has defended earning about $1.2 billion from his family’s cryptocurrency ventures last year, saying his financial gains reflect broader market growth.
Speaking to reporters before boarding a new Air Force One aircraft gifted by Qatar, Trump rejected claims that he was using his office for personal enrichment.
“You know why I’m profiting, because the stock market’s going up, everybody’s profiting,” Trump said.
Responding to questions over potential conflicts of interest, the president said his personal finances are managed through blind trusts, preventing him from influencing investment decisions.
“I don’t get involved in my personal (finances), we have funds that run my money,” Trump said. “I’ve made a lot of money before I became president, and they invest my money, and I don’t talk to them.”
Trump also attributed his wealth to his business career, despite the earnings stemming from cryptocurrency ventures launched during his return to the White House.
“I don’t know if I’ve had a better career in politics or business, but I had a great career in business, and you know, you saw the cash, and you report the different things,” he said.
“So we’re all profiting. I’m profiting because I have a lot of money and a lot of cash.”
Financial disclosures released by the US Office of Government Ethics showed that Trump earned nearly $550 million in 2025 through his ties to the cryptocurrency startup World Liberty Financial.
World Liberty Financial was co-founded in September 2024 by Trump’s sons and the son of Trump’s Middle East special envoy, Steve Witkoff.
The disclosures also showed that Trump received $635 million in royalties under a licensing agreement linked to the $TRUMP cryptocurrency, launched shortly before his inauguration in January 2025.
According to Forbes, Trump’s cryptocurrency ventures have driven a sharp increase in his personal fortune, which rose from $2.3 billion in 2024 to $6.5 billion in 2026.
During his presidency, Trump has introduced policies aimed at deregulating the cryptocurrency sector, contributing to a rise in digital asset prices.
The White House said the president has “proudly made the United States the crypto capital of the world.”