Trump & Cronies Top 10 Worst…Presidential Profiteering Scandals

No president in American historical past has profited off the presidency the way in which Donald Trump has—and it’s not shut. In his first time period, he benefited to the tune of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in shady schemes, equivalent to overseas governments utilizing his properties for his or her occasions. However his second time period has been orders of magnitude worse, as we doc on this second installment of our collection on Trump’s Top 10 Worst. From the Qatari aircraft scandal to promoting entry to purchasers of his meme coin to his relations raking in riches, Trump and co. are brazenly dangling particular therapy for individuals who are prepared to pay. The White Home denies any wrongdoing, stating “the American public consider it’s absurd for anybody to insinuate that this president is profiting off of the presidency.” In the meantime, the president has reportedly increased his net worth by over $3 billion to date throughout the first 12 months of his second time period.

That’s why we’ve had a tough time choosing the worst cases of his corrupt self-enrichment, to not point out that of his cronies and household. So if you happen to don’t see your favourite scheme on this checklist, don’t fear—there are too many! Right here’s our newest Top 10 Worst checklist, adopted, as regular, by this week’s good Contrarian protection.

If these incidents infuriate you, there’s something you are able to do about it. As a paid Contrarian subscriber, you help our efforts to push again towards all of this wrongdoing by means of litigation, equivalent to our complaint to battle the very first gold-plated merchandise on our checklist.

1. Trump’s Qatari Boeing

In Might, Qatar introduced Trump and his administration with a $400 million Boeing 747, ostensibly to make use of as Air Pressure One—a gift reportedly worth more than all foreign gifts bestowed on all former American presidents mixed. As my colleagues and I noted in a authorized complaint, the Trump administration is outwardly illegally transferring the almost $1 billion from a nuclear weapons program on the Protection Division to retrofit the jet, a gross mismanagement of key federal funds. And it’ll barely have time within the air earlier than Trump’s time period ends and it will get “donated” to Trump’s presidential library for his continued use. In the meantime, after the switch, Qatar bought a assure that the US will defend Qatar by means of “diplomatic, financial, and, if mandatory, navy” measures and a brand new “military facility” for Qatar’s Air Pressure on the Mountain Residence Air Pressure Base in Idaho. Trump has defended the switch of the aircraft as a official “present” and the White Home said that “any present given by a overseas authorities is all the time accepted in full compliance with all relevant legal guidelines. President Trump’s administration is dedicated to full transparency.”

Present Standing: We’re ready for the Authorities Accountability Workplace to behave on our criticism—but it surely’s onerous to think about a clearer battle of curiosity.

2. World Liberty Monetary

After the Trump household helped promote cryptocurrency firm World Liberty Monetary (WLFI), it started encouraging overseas traders to purchase into the enterprise. The conflicts of curiosity have since gotten solely worse, as we focus on in our report on Trump’s crypto conflicts. This contains the involvement of alleged fraudster Justin Solar (see No. 6 beneath). Then there’s “shadowy” United Arab Emirates-based Aqua1 Basis, which invested $100 million in WLFI in June. WLFI additionally offered its tokens to at the least 62 customers that additionally used TornadoCash, an Workplace of Overseas Asset Management-sanctioned crypto mixing service that the Justice Division alleged helped criminals and hackers “launder greater than $1 billion of illicit belongings.” The Biden administration sanctioned Twister Money in 2022, however the Trump administration lifted the sanctions in March 2025. Donald Trump Jr. has stated that the concept that WLFI traders could also be looking for favor with the Trump administration is “complete nonsense.”

Present Standing: Not solely is WLFI—and Trump’s crypto empire—flourishing, however Congress is speeding to pass legislation creating a market structure for cryptocurrency with none checks on Trump’s means to affect the market to his profit. Our authorized crew is working night and day to cease that from taking place.

3. The Meme Coin Grift

Trump’s meme coin represents maybe his most brash self-enrichment scheme, one not like something we have now ever seen from an American president. Based on the web site, the token is “intended to function as an expression of support for, and engagement with, the ideals and beliefs embodied by the symbol “$TRUMP“—and never as an funding or safety. However in fact this slice of code was listed on numerous crypto exchanges and instantly surged in value. Since its launch, the coin’s worth carefully adopted Trump’s bulletins, with wild fluctuations. The president even hosted an unique dinner for meme coin “traders” who spent tens of hundreds to purchase the digital token. This entry public sale was a scheme so brazen—even for Trump—that it left ethics specialists like us stunned. The White Home denies any conflicts of curiosity.

Present Standing: The Trump-dominated Securities and Alternate Fee has proven zero curiosity in inspecting Trump’s meme coin actions. This makes defeating the brand new crypto market invoice much more essential. Our battle continues.

4. Trump’s Overseas Actual Property Growth

Trump is about to greater than triple his overseas properties throughout this time period, as actual property builders are engaged on at the least 23 Trump-branded initiatives. These initiatives are a worldwide feeding frenzy for overseas governments seeking to curry favor with the president. To take only some examples, Trump is constructing a resort, golf course, and residences in Oman on property owned by the federal government. A Saudi actual property firm (with shut ties to the Saudi authorities) is the Trump Group’s associate in numerous actual property offers, together with a brand new Trump Resort in Dubai and a residential tower in Jeddah. In November, the Trump Group introduced a project within the Maldives with the identical Saudi agency. The very subsequent day, Trump met with Saudi Crown Prince and Jared Kushner buddy Mohammed bin Salman and introduced an “(*10*)” with the dominion. Arduous to give you higher explanation why the Structure prohibits the president from accepting overseas emoluments. When requested about potential conflicts of curiosity within the context of Trump’s then-upcoming journey to the Center East, Press Secretary Karoline Levitt claimed that it was, “ridiculous that anybody on this room would even counsel that President Trump is doing something for his personal profit.”

Present Standing: Every particular person property could represent an emoluments clause violation. We at Democracy Defenders Fund embrace leaders of the crew that gained a number of emoluments instances towards Trump in his first time period, and we’re evaluating the way to battle again now. Watch this house!

5. The USD1 Binance-UAE Deal

Lower than two months after Trump’s WLFI launched USD1, its stablecoin, a UAE state-backed funding agency introduced that it will use USD1 to finance a $2 billion funding in crypto trade Binance, which was then below SEC investigation. In Might, Binance decided to checklist USD1–and, days after the announcement, Trump’s SEC dropped its securities case towards the trade. After which there’s Trump’s therapy of Binance’s head Changpen “CZ” Zhao. He pleaded responsible to cash laundering in 2023 and bought a Trump pardon in October of this 12 months. The White House defended Zhao, criticized his prosecution, and blamed the Biden administration for creating a “war on cryptocurrency.“

Present Standing: Count on to maintain listening to about this one—particularly as marketing campaign season approaches.

6. Justin Solar’s “Funding” in Trump Crypto

Justin Solar is a cryptocurrency entrepreneur going through SEC fraud charges. Solar loudly purchased $75 million of WLFI tokens beginning in November 2024. The SEC in March 2025 delayed its fraud case towards Solar. Come Might 2025, Solar—additionally loudly—purchased $20 million of Trump’s meme coin, gaining entrance to a private dinner with the president. The timing and scale of the investments elevate questions on whether or not Solar is attempting to purchase his manner out of federal hassle—and into Trump’s good graces. When pressed concerning the ethics of the crypto dinner, Leavitt attempted to assuage fears, “I can guarantee you, the president acts with solely the pursuits of the American public in thoughts.”

Present Standing: Solar continues increasing his cryptocurrency empire whereas his case remains delayed in response to the newest entry within the court docket docket.

7. Tom Homan’s $50,000

In September 2024, earlier than Trump’s election, his future Border Czar Tom Homan allegedly accepted a $50,000 cost from undercover federal brokers posing as enterprise executives. Homan reportedly indicated he may help them to safe authorities contracts ought to Trump win—and there’s stated to be a tape in authorities fingers. After the Trump crew took over, the investigation was reportedly closed. Homan says that he did “nothing criminal” and that “I recused myself from any discussions of any contract or any financial selections like that….”

Present Standing: My Democracy Defenders colleagues and I stepped in, launching an investigation in September. It’s persevering with and all authorized cures are on the desk.

8. The $300 Million Ballroom Boondoggle

In the course of the longest authorities shutdown ever, as federal employees have been going with out pay and standing in bread traces, Trump ordered the destruction of the historic East Wing to construct a large, $300 million-plus ballroom. Trump says he’s funding the ballroom by means of non-public sponsorships. What a sort, altruistic gesture from the company donors, who’ve through the years acquired billions in federal contracts–and 14 of whom are presently going through federal enforcement actions. The White House has advised journalists involved concerning the lack of oversight to, “belief the method,” and stated that, “a submission is just not required legally,” to tear down the East Wing.

Present Standing: A lawsuit has simply been filed to cease building due to alleged authorized violations and a TRO listening to is about for subsequent week.

9. The Govt Department Membership

After his father was sworn in, Donald Trump Jr. and enterprise companions Zach and Alex Witkoff (the sons of Trump envoy Steve Witkoff) and others, launched a brand new non-public membership in D.C. They openly named it “The Govt Department.” This cheesy tavern–whose “coat of arms” is topped by an ersatz presidential eagle–raises serious ethics concerns. Members are lining the pockets of the Trump and Witkoff households with reported large initiation charges (stated to be up to $500,000) plus extra annual dues for the well-heeled to mingle with authorities officers and their kin–not not like its probably inspiration, Mar-a-Lago.

Present Standing: The venue continues to serve as a potential influence-peddling hotspot.

10. Amazon Prime Video Presents: Melania

About two weeks earlier than Trump’s inauguration, Amazon Prime Video introduced that it was releasing a documentary about Melania Trump—a $40 million discount for Amazon. It’s onerous to think about Amazon choosing up this challenge at this hefty value level with out contemplating the corporate’s relationship with the Trumps. Amazon simply settled one main case introduced towards it by the Biden Federal Commerce Fee for $2.5 billion, with one other probably even bigger case ongoing, and the corporate can be a big federal contractor (it acquired one other $1 billion in expanded cloud computing contracts in August). An Amazon spokesperson stated, “We licensed the upcoming Melania Trump documentary movie and collection for one motive and one motive solely—as a result of we expect clients are going to like it.”

Present Standing: The movie is about to hit theaters in January, kicking off what guarantees to be one other 12 months of the Trump household’s shameless profiteering off the presidency. Amazon has launched a nonetheless image of Melania peering out a automotive window onto a nondescript tarmac—not precisely a $40 million view.

And now, onto a a lot nicer checklist…the perfect of this week’s Contrarian protection!

When Public Health Fails Our Children: Dr. Dara Kass supplied pressing medical and private testimony on why the CDC advisory board’s choice to roll again the hepatitis B vaccine suggestion might be devastating. “[This] isn’t nearly one vaccine. It’s that our public well being infrastructure has been corrupted by ideologues pursuing an agenda unrelated to public well being or science.”

Healthcare Isn’t a Luxury! Natasha Murphy on Looming ACA Deadline: Natasha Murphy, director of Well being Coverage on the Middle for American Progress, joined Jen to color a transparent image of what a rustic with out reasonably priced healthcare seems to be like: very similar to the one we’re already residing in, with excessive potential to worsen. “The fact is, individuals simply gained’t have the ability to afford protection and must drop protection altogether.”

How RFK Jr. is Making America Sick: Colette Delawalla of Stand Up for Science joined Jen to put out the injury Well being Secretary RFK Jr. has induced to make America something however wholesome once more. “We’re not in a spot to have the ability to afford extra sickness.”

Deadly Disparities: April Ryan spoke with Dr. Roger Mitchell, president of the Nationwide Medical Affiliation, about medical racism, the Inexpensive Care Act stakes, and the anti-vax insanity. “Trump’s regime is weaponizing public well being.”

A Depraved President Attacks Again: Shalise Manza-Younger wrote on the brand new low in a decades-long marketing campaign of racist, xenophobic vilifications. “For all of the Trump regime’s inhumane discuss of non-white immigrants broadly and ‘illegals’ extra particularly, his focused assault on the Somali neighborhood and Omar feels completely different, extra sinister.”

The Meaning of the Birthright Citizenship Case: María Pérez wrote on the Supreme Court docket reviewing birthright citizenship, a difficulty constitutionally settled for greater than 150 years. “If the court docket overturns a part of the 14th Modification, the federal government would have license to limit the place Black and brown individuals dwell, what they’ll personal, which jobs they’ll maintain, and who will get to take part totally in public life.”

Trump’s Anti-Diversity Crusade Claims Two Campus Magazines: Jennifer Weiss-Wolf shone a highlight on the College of Alabama, which shuttered two student-run publications in capitulation to Trump’s anti-DEI agenda—obeying upfront “nicely earlier than a battle with the federal authorities had begun in earnest.”

Venezuela, Western Dominance, & Regime Change: Rep. Adam Smith’s Striking Updates: In a must-watch interview with Jen Rubin, Rep. Smith shared stunning particulars concerning the September strikes on a Venezuelan “drug boat,” gleaned partly from a listening to with the U.S. commander who oversaw the operation. “We may have simply are available with a helicopter and plucked these two guys off the highest of that boat.”

The second strike isn’t the only problem: Jen began off the week by placing these Caribbean boat strikes in a sobering geopolitical and strategic context, through which these extrajudicial killings could result in one other regime-change struggle of the very sort Trump vowed by no means to start out. “We’re on the cusp of one other unjustified, unauthorized struggle.”

Trump’s “Back to the Future” Approach to National Security: Brian O’Neill analyzed the White Home’s latest Nationwide Safety Technique, which, he says, reads like a Nineteen Thirties revival. “Trump has been desirous to say, in impact, ‘The place we’re going, we don’t want roads’—no allies, no establishments, no guardrails, simply American leverage and can. The issue is that everybody else sees the potholes forward.”

The Inevitable, Trumpian Betrayal of Ukraine: Tim Mak spoke with Jen Rubin on all issues Ukraine, Venezuela, and European allies, breaking down how and why the rift between the U.S. and its closest companions retains widening.

From Soft Power to Hard Profit on Global Health: Roberto Valadéz wrote on the Trump regime’s substitute for U.S. AID—the “America First World Well being Technique”—which isn’t solely already incurring a worldwide demise toll, however that additionally does all the pieces BUT put America first when it comes to sensible coverage.

FIFA Played a False Nine on Trump: Carron J. Phillips was equally unimpressed with the FIFA Peace Prize and Trump fortunately accepting the “pacifier on a ribbon.” “The governing physique of the world’s greatest sport bent the knee to America’s smallest man.”

Hollywood Stars Flock to Saudi Film Festival: Meredith Blake wrote on the most recent spectacle of celeb hypocrisy to rival the Riyadh Comedy Competition, but which has surprisingly introduced much less flak to its A-list attendees. “To paraphrase Dakota Johnson, issues within the U.S. are, certainly, actually grim. However a complete bunch of Saudi cash can solely make it worse.”

Ex-NBA Player, Congressman—& Friend of Epstein?: On this week’s “Offsides” episode, Pablo Torre up to date on an ex-NBA participant—and ex-congressman—who occurs to be within the Epstein recordsdata. “Persons are making selections about what to disregard, once they’re associating with somebody, once they’re taking donations from someone, once they’re utilizing somebody’s community to complement themselves.”

We Say, “Only Voters” Will Save Us. Then We Forget About Them: Laura Brill outlined a key technique to beat the voter registration hurdle: convey it to highschool civics class. “If the poll field is the last word examine on authoritarianism, we have to construct and keep the onramp, and we have to do it now.”

New Year, New Party? Simon Rosenberg on Dems’ Strategy: Simon thought of the 12 months previous—and forward, breaking down what the social gathering bought fallacious, who’s doing it proper, and what’s to come back. “The explanation our approval score has been low is as a result of Democrats are upset in us—not Republicans and Independents.”

The Contrarian covers the Democracy Movement: This week, we noticed protests in Oregon, North Carolina, Bulgaria, Iran, and Honduras, and extra. Get assist organizing from Indivisible, discover protests in your space at mobilize.us, and ship us your protest pictures at submit@contrariannews.org.

This week, our cartoonists took on Trump and Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth’s murky struggle crimes justice (The Fog of War by RJ Matson, Tom the Dancing Bug by Ruben Bolling); the administration’s worst items for this holidays (Stocking Stuffers and He’s Making a List by RJ Matson, The War on Christmas by Nick Anderson); and the ironies of Trump calling something “rubbish” (Garbage Man by Michael de Adder, MAGA Jesus by Nick Anderson).

Subject to Debate: Should Stars Like Sabrina Carpenter Respond to Presidential Trolling?: Meredith Blake wrote on Carpenter’s choice to battle again when the White Home used her music to advertise ICE—and the way it differs from the strategy of stars like Taylor Swift. “Did she fall for rage bait, or do the proper factor?”

Chocolate Chestnut Bûche de Noël: Jamie Schler offers us the recipe for a luxurious vacation deal with and a prescription for moments of pleasure, magnificence, and charm daily.

Contrarian Holiday Pets: This week, we featured a roundup of reader-submitted pictures of their pets celebrating the winter holidays. Submit yours to submit@contrariannews.org with Vacation Pets within the topic line to be thought of for the second installment, coming subsequent week.

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We sit up for seeing you on Espresso with the Contrarians on Monday morning at 9:15 a.m. ET. Within the meantime, have an exquisite weekend. Warmly, Norm