Trump says his kids handle his investments: There's 'nothing illegal'
President Donald Trump said he doesn't have any insight into his business dealings during an interview on CNBC on Thursday, saying that his children handle his finances as new financial disclosures show he made more than $2 billion in his first year back in office.
Asked directly about potential conflicts of interest related to his own investments, given that the disclosures show he made $1.4 billion from cryptocurrency ventures in 2025, Trump said he didn't know about the ventures.
At the same time, he said, "I could know about it. I didn't. I mean, there's nothing illegal, there's nothing wrong with it."
Trump's comments came following a reference from CNBC's Joe Kernen on U.S. code that states executive branch employees are prohibited from "participating personally and substantially in a particular Government matter that will affect his own financial interests, as well as the financial interests of certain individuals with whom he has ties outside the Government."
Vice presidents and president are not subject to this code.
Unlike past presidents, however, Trump did not divest his holdings or put his assets in a blind trust. That's led to longstanding questions from Democrats about potential conflicts of interest and whether Trump is profiting from the presidency.
"Donald Trump made more than $2 billion during his first year as President. Republicans are enriching themselves while making your life more expensive. We must crush the culture of corruption," House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries posted on X.
Pressed on whether he was worried about the possibility of investigations into him surrounding his investments if Democrats regain power in Congress, Trump responded that he doesn't "do anything having to do with my business."
He maintained his children, specifically Eric, handle his portfolio. Trump said he doesn't talk to Eric about his finances.
"I don't do anything having to do with my business. My kids run it," he said.
"I've made a tremendous amount of money, more than I would have ever thought I would have made. And I let people invest it. I don't even speak to -- I don't even know who they are, but it's given to big firms like on your show all the time," Trump said. "My son Eric handles it. I don't talk to him about things such as this. I think I'd be allowed to. I'm not sure even what the status is, but I don't."
The president, when asked about the profits he made from his crypto companies, instead mostly talked about the importance of Americans participating in the crypto industry -- a sector his administration is helping to regulate.
"Well, I was here before, I was there before I was in office, but the way I view crypto is a little differently. We have to be at the top, otherwise China is going to take it over," Trump said.
Trump said that he feels "badly in a way" for his kids given his role in government.
"Because every time my kids do, if they invest in a stock, or they go and do a building, anything they do, because the presidency is so powerful, so big, everything, if they buy a cupcake company, well, the energy to make the cupcakes is, you know, sort of like, how's my energy policy? So, therefore, you have a conflict," Trump told CNBC.
"Almost anything they do, if they want to buy a truck, if they want to buy, you know, they buy an energy efficient truck, they have inside information. So, it's pretty tough in that sense. I tell my kids, stay away from as much as you can stay away from, but they also have a life, you know," Trump said. "They -- we were doing business long before I ever thought of even running."
Trump said he believes one of the reasons he was elected is because of his business background, but that he doesn't "care" about his finances because he has a "bigger purpose" -- to be the president of the United States.
"You know why I don't care? Because I have a much bigger purpose. You know, this -- this is the Oval Office. It's a much bigger purpose than whether or not I make money," Trump said.
