Donald Trump defends family’s multibillion crypto profits amid ethics probe

U.S. President Donald Trump has defended the financial activities of his family, asserting that the multibillion‑dollar earnings from cryptocurrency dealings are legal. Financial disclosures for 2025 show the Trump family earned more than $1 billion from crypto investments, with a total reported income of $2.2 billion that year, including over $1.4 billion from crypto‑related ventures.

The Office of Government Ethics released a 927‑page report detailing the earnings and raising questions about possible conflicts of interest. Trump told CNBC that he had no personal knowledge of the transactions and that “there is nothing illegal about it.” Critics, including Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, have called for legislation to prohibit elected officials from creating or promoting meme‑coins, warning of market manipulation and ethical breaches.

Trump’s administration has pursued a pro‑crypto agenda, loosening regulations and promoting digital‑currency adoption. The disclosures have sparked public outrage and renewed debate over the adequacy of existing ethics rules. Separately, reports highlighted the president’s lucrative licensing deals for products such as limited‑edition watches, perfumes, Bibles and guitars, which together generated additional millions of dollars, underscoring the breadth of his personal brand’s revenue streams.