Trump Complains He's a 'Schmuck' for Donating Salary

Former president falsely claims he's the only one to waive presidential pay, despite profiting massively from the office.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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In an economic speech, former President Donald Trump complained that he gets 'no credit' for donating his $400,000 annual presidential salary, falsely claiming he was the only president to do so. However, Trump and his family have profited extensively from the presidency, including through a Trump-branded cryptocurrency that has generated at least $320 million in fees.

Why it matters

Trump's comments highlight the stark contrast between his public claims of donating his salary and the extensive ways he and his family have monetized the presidency, raising ethical concerns about conflicts of interest and the blurring of personal and public interests.

The details

While Trump did donate his salary for several years, other wealthy presidents like John F. Kennedy and Herbert Hoover have also forgone their presidential pay. Meanwhile, the Trump family and business partners have collected hundreds of millions in fees from ventures like a Trump-branded cryptocurrency, and Trump has accepted a $200 million luxury jet from Qatar that he plans to use as Air Force One.

  • Trump made the comments in an economic speech on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
  • Trump stopped donating his salary by 2020, according to his tax returns.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States who complained about not receiving credit for donating his salary, despite his family profiting extensively from the presidency.

John F. Kennedy

A former president who donated his presidential salary to charity because he was among the wealthiest to serve in the role.

Herbert Hoover

A former president who donated his presidential salary to charity because he was among the wealthiest to serve in the role.

Elon Musk

A billionaire who has aligned with Trump and benefited from regulatory decisions the former president oversaw.

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What they’re saying

“We've had wealthy presidents before. In the history of our country, there's never been a president that waived his salary. I'm the only schmuck. I get no credit for it. You know what, I get no credit for it. Nobody writes about it.”

— Donald Trump, Former President (New York Times)

The takeaway

Trump's complaints about not receiving credit for donating his salary highlight the stark contrast between his public claims of sacrifice and the extensive ways he and his family have profited from the presidency, raising serious ethical concerns about conflicts of interest and the blurring of personal and public interests.