How the Presidency is Making Trump Richer - Up First Recap

Podcast: Up First

Published: 2026-02-08

Duration: 32 minutes

Guests: David Kirkpatrick, Fred Wertheimer

Summary

Donald Trump and his family have significantly increased their wealth during his presidency, with estimates suggesting they made nearly $4 billion off the presidency through various ventures.

What Happened

Before Donald Trump's presidency, he was financially struggling due to decreasing income from licensing and endorsements. However, by the start of his second term, his financial situation had become even more precarious, with hundreds of millions owed in fraud and defamation lawsuits.

David Kirkpatrick, a writer for the New Yorker, has been meticulously tracking Trump's financial dealings. He reports that in just about a year, the Trump family has made nearly $4 billion, even using conservative estimates. This financial windfall is attributed to strategic business deals and ventures that were made possible, or at least favorable, due to Trump's position in the White House.

One of the major sources of revenue has been Trump's ability to convert campaign funds into legal defense money, as well as the success of his social media platform, Truth Social. The platform thrived due to Trump's presidency, turning Trump Media into a Bitcoin holding company. Trump's ventures in the cryptocurrency world, including NFTs and stablecoins, have also been lucrative.

The Trump family has capitalized on merchandising, selling Trump-branded items like sneakers, Bibles, and guitars, contributing around $27.7 million to their wealth. In addition, the initiation fee at Mar-a-Lago skyrocketed from $100,000 to $1 million after Trump's election, indicating how his presidency directly influenced his business earnings.

Foreign investments have played a significant role in Trump's financial gains. Notable deals include a $2 billion investment from Saudi Arabia in Jared Kushner's venture, despite negative evaluations from an advisory board. Moreover, Trump's hotel in Vietnam received favorable treatment from the Vietnamese government, and there have been significant real estate deals in the Persian Gulf.

The episode also touches upon the unique comparison of Trump's financial gains to those of Vladimir Putin, highlighting how unprecedented it is for a U.S. president to profit so significantly while in office. Fred Wertheimer, President of Democracy 21, emphasizes that Trump's financial trajectory is unlike any other U.S. president, describing it as a unique phenomenon in American political history.

Key Insights