Alyssa Farah Griffin calls Trump’s self-dealing 'next level', says it may hurt GOP in midterms
WASHINGTON, DC: Alyssa Farah Griffin, who previously served as White House Communications Director under President Donald Trump, raised concerns about the president's growing list of business ventures during a television appearance on Tuesday, June 9.
Speaking on CNN's AC360 with Anderson Cooper, Griffin argued that Trump's efforts to profit from his brand while in office could become a political challenge for Republicans as they look ahead to future elections.
Anderson Cooper highlights growing list of Trump family products
The discussion began after Cooper brought up the Trump family's latest product offering - a collection of gold coins created to commemorate the upcoming UFC "Freedom 250" event at the White House.
The collectables are being sold at prices ranging from $249.99 to $11,999.99, adding to a long list of products and ventures linked to Trump and his family.
During the segment, Cooper pointed to several products that have been marketed by Trump and his family over the years.
Along with the newly introduced commemorative coins, he mentioned Bibles, Constitutions, sneakers, the Trump phone and multiple cryptocurrency projects.
The CNN host then asked Griffin whether any of these ventures would ultimately have political consequences for the president.
Griffin appeared skeptical that Trump's personal popularity would take a significant hit. Responding to Cooper's question, she said, "Nothing sticks to Trump. I mean, it's Teflon Don."
Alyssa Farah Griffin compares controversy to criticism of Hunter Biden
While discussing the issue, Griffin drew a comparison between Trump's business activities and the criticism Republicans directed at Hunter Biden during former President Joe Biden's administration.
According to Griffin, many Republicans spent years expressing outrage over Hunter Biden's efforts to make money through his artwork and other ventures.
She argued that Trump's current activities go much further than the examples Republicans previously condemned.
"I just think of the things that we Republicans were outraged with, with Hunter Biden, when Biden was in office. He's profiting off of these, you know, his artistry and these pictures he was drawing. This is next level. It's really next level," Griffin said.
Her remarks highlighted what she sees as a contradiction between past Republican criticism and the response to Trump's business dealings today.
The former Trump official made it clear that her concerns were less about the president's personal political standing and more about the potential impact on Republican candidates who may have to answer questions about the issue on the campaign trail.
Alyssa Farah Griffin says Republicans may face difficult questions
Griffin argued that Republican candidates could find themselves in a difficult position as economic concerns continue to dominate public discussion.
She suggested that defending Trump's business ventures may become increasingly challenging if voters remain focused on issues such as rising costs and economic pressures.
"But, while it doesn't really stick with Donald Trump, it does potentially stick with Republicans down ballot. Heading into the midterms when the gas prices are high, when the cost of everything seems through the roof, having to defend these sorts of things and things like, you know, a billion ballroom gets increasingly harder for Republicans," she said.
Her comments came amid ongoing scrutiny surrounding the financial success of Trump's various business projects during his second term.
An estimate published by The New Yorker in August 2025 placed the amount earned by the Trump family since the start of the president's second term at roughly $4 billion.
