Trump Family Deal Spree Could Open Door for Future Presidents to Profit from Office

The Trump Organization's rapid global expansion and cryptocurrency ventures raise concerns about conflicts of interest and the potential for future presidents to monetize the presidency.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 1:35pm

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A dynamic, abstract painting in shades of blue, gold, and red, featuring the fragmented outline of a government building, conveying the blurred boundaries between the Trump family's business dealings and political influence.The Trump family's rapid global business expansion during the former president's second term has raised unprecedented concerns about conflicts of interest and the potential for a sitting president to profit from the office.Georgetown Today

In his second term, President Trump and his family have rapidly expanded the Trump Organization's global footprint, including deals in authoritarian countries, cryptocurrency ventures, and investments in companies seeking government contracts. This has raised concerns from ethics experts and historians about unprecedented conflicts of interest and the potential for future presidents to profit from the office.

Why it matters

The Trump family's deal-making spree breaks with decades of precedent set by previous presidents who avoided even the appearance of profiting from the presidency. This could pave the way for future presidents to more openly monetize their time in office, potentially compromising policy decisions and undermining public trust in the presidency.

The details

The Trump Organization has done eight foreign deals in just over a year, including projects in Qatar, Vietnam, and Saudi Arabia, raising questions about whether these deals influenced U.S. policies. The family has also profited from cryptocurrency ventures, including a $500 million sale to a UAE government-linked company and the issuance of 'meme coins' that generated over $320 million. Additionally, Trump family members have taken ownership stakes in companies seeking government contracts.

  • In Trump's first term, the Trump Organization did zero deals in foreign countries.
  • In a little over a year into his second term, the Trump Organization did eight foreign deals.
  • Days before the inauguration, the Trump family sold nearly half of its World Liberty Financial crypto business to a UAE government-linked company for $500 million.
  • Over the four months after Trump took office, the sale of 'meme coins' stamped with Trump's face generated $320 million, more than double the money collected in four years running his Washington D.C. hotel in his first term.
  • Last month, Trump announced he would hold another dinner with new top holders of his meme coins, giving the coin a boost before it fell back again.

The players

Harry Truman

A former president who refused to lend his name to any business, even in retirement.

Richard Nixon

A former president who so feared a brother might profit off their ties, he had his phone tapped.

George W. Bush

A former president who dumped his individual stock holdings before taking office.

Eric Trump

The son of President Trump who has led the Trump Organization's rapid global expansion.

Donald Trump Jr.

The son of President Trump who has also been involved in the Trump Organization's deal-making and investments.

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What they’re saying

“I don't think there's any line right now between policy decisions and political calculations and the interest of the Trump family.”

— Julian Zelizer, Presidential historian at Princeton University

“Whatever constraints there were in the first term appear to have completely disappeared. Do you want future presidents to be open to the highest bidder?”

— Timothy Naftali, Historian at Columbia University

“Frankly, it's gotten old.”

— Donald Trump Jr.

What’s next

The White House and the Trump Organization have denied any ethical problems with the family's business dealings, but government ethics experts and historians argue the conflicts of interest are unprecedented and dangerous to democracy. It remains to be seen if there will be any consequences or changes in policy to address these concerns.

The takeaway

The Trump family's aggressive pursuit of business deals and investments during the president's second term has shattered long-standing norms around the presidency and raised serious questions about the potential for future leaders to profit from the office. This could have far-reaching implications for the integrity of the presidency and public trust in the government.