'I made my money before becoming president': Trump rejects profiting claims after $2B disclosure

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump rejected allegations on Wednesday, July 1, that he has personally benefited financially from serving in office after newly released financial disclosures detailed more than $2 billion in reported earnings during his first year back in the White House.

Trump said he does not manage his investments and insisted his wealth predates his presidency. He also argued that his recent gains reflected broader stock market performance rather than actions taken while in office.

Trump denies managing personal investments

Responding to questions about his financial disclosure, Trump said his personal wealth is managed by outside institutions and maintained that he deliberately avoids involvement in investment decisions.

"I've made a lot of money before I became president, and they invest my money, and I don't talk to them," Trump said.

The president said he places his assets into what he described as a "blind account" managed by large financial institutions.

Reiterating that he does not communicate directly with those overseeing his investments, Trump said, "I purposely, I never speak to any of the people that run the money. But they're big institutions, and they invest in whatever they invest."

Trump also pointed to his business career before entering politics, saying it was the source of his wealth. "I've had a great career in business. I don't know if I've had a better career in politics or business, but I had a great career in business," he said.

Trump rejected the suggestion that he was profiting while serving as president, attributing his financial gains to broader market performance. "Well, you know why I'm profiting? Because the stock market's going up. Everybody's profiting," Trump said.

"If you have a 401(k), how's your 401(k) done? It's been up 85%," he added. "So we're all profiting. I'm profiting because I have a lot of money and a lot of cash, and I give it to institutions."

Trump financial disclosure sparks renewed scrutiny

The president's latest financial disclosure, released by the Office of Government Ethics, reported more than $2 billion in earnings during 2025, including more than $1 billion tied to cryptocurrency ventures and hundreds of millions of dollars from other business interests.

Among the largest reported income sources were Trump-affiliated cryptocurrency businesses, including World Liberty Financial and CIC Digital LLC, which generated substantial revenue through governance tokens and Trump-branded digital assets.

The disclosure also reported continued income from Trump's golf clubs, resorts, and other real estate holdings.

Trump's financial arrangements have drawn renewed scrutiny because, unlike several recent presidents, he has not placed his assets into a traditional blind trust. Instead, his business interests remain under a trust overseen by his eldest sons, Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump.

Trump's financial arrangements have drawn renewed scrutiny because, unlike several recent presidents, he has not placed his assets into a traditional blind trust. Instead, his business interests remain under a trust overseen by his eldest sons, Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump.

The White House has continued to reject suggestions that the president's official actions have been influenced by his personal financial interests.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly previously said Trump "only acts in the best interests of the American public" and maintained that he has "no conflicts of interest."