Here’s How Trump Turned His First Year Back in the White House Into a Massive Personal Windfall as Critics Decry ‘Exploitation’

One year after his return to the White House, President Donald Trump and his family have taken in at least $1.4 billion while millions of Americans face cuts to health care and food aid. That total is the figure the New York Times editorial board laid out in a summary of reporting across news organizations.

The editorial put it plainly. “President Trump has never been a man to ask what he can do for his country. In his second term, as in his first, he is instead testing the limits of what his country can do for him,” the board wrote.

Put simply, the paper argued this was about profit, not public service. “He has poured his energy and creativity into the exploitation of the presidency—into finding out just how much money people, corporations, and other nations are willing to put into his pockets in hopes of bending the power of the government to the service of their interests.”

Investigations show much of the new wealth came from crypto ventures tied to Trump family companies. Reuters calculated the family earned roughly $800 million in crypto related sales in the first half of 2025, and other tallies cited by the Times put the family’s crypto gains at about $867 million. That figure may still understate unrealized holdings and private transfers.

Reporting also points to a large Abu Dhabi linked investment into a Trump aligned crypto project. Reuters said an Abu Dhabi investment firm put about $2 billion into a Trump related stablecoin vehicle, and that investment came shortly before the White House announced new access for the UAE to advanced computer chips. Critics say the timing looks troubling.

Foreign letters and deals did not stop at crypto. The Pentagon has confirmed a Qatari donation of a large Boeing jet valued at around $400 million for potential presidential use. The plane’s acceptance drew legal and ethics questions about gifts from foreign governments.

Media and tech settlements added to the total as well. Reuters reported that YouTube agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle a suit brought by Mr. Trump, and summaries of reporting cited roughly $90.5 million in settlements from several companies overall. Those payments were included in the tally.

Other items in the ledger include overseas licensing and branding fees. The Times summary noted about $23 million from Trump branded projects abroad, plus a reported Amazon deal tied to a Melania Trump documentary that news outlets say is worth about $40 million.

All of this comes as policy changes mean many Americans could pay more for health care or lose coverage. The editorial placed the private gains against a backdrop of rising premiums and cuts to assistance programs, saying the contrast is stark and corrosive.

Plainly put, the numbers now on the public record make an uncomfortable point. When public power and private money overlap so visibly, voters and watchdogs will press to know why and how. The answers matter not only for ethics but for trust in the office itself.

Featured image via The Daily Glitch library