From the President to the crypto world: How the Trump family reshapes the business landscape with power

Due to the impact of tariffs, the CEOs of Walmart, Target, and Home Depot privately warned Trump that there could be product shortages and price rises. Trump also seems to acknowledge this impact, stating that American families may have to purchase fewer and more expensive holiday toys. However, for Trump's inner circle, a true golden age has arrived.

U.S. media Axios stated that in the first hundred days of Trump's presidency, he created historically substantial profits. The Trump family leveraged their power to earn billions of dollars through numerous opaque business activities. Most U.S. presidents have tried to avoid using their office or public policy for personal gain, even if only to appear so on the surface. However, Trump is intertwining official power with personal affairs in an unprecedented manner, often without concealment. U.S. media Axios sharply pointed out that Trump's first term blurred the lines between public office and private interests, while his second term completely erased this boundary.

Trump, his children, and allied partners have launched a series of high-profile investment projects to profit from their close ties with the government.

Cryptocurrency Company World Free Finance

World Liberty Financial ( is a cryptocurrency and decentralized finance company established in 2024. The founders include Steve Witkoff ), Trump's Middle East envoy and longtime friend, and his son Zach Witkoff. The company has raised over $550 million by selling tokens to buyers worldwide.

Donald Trump himself serves as the company's "Chief Cryptocurrency Advocate." Trump's two sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, are actively involved in the company's management. According to reports, the Trump family holds 60% of the shares in World Freedom Financial through its business entities and is entitled to 75% of the company's token sale revenue.

At the same time, the Trump administration is pushing a series of policies, including the establishment of a federal cryptocurrency reserve. These policies are believed to help enhance the value of assets held by the global free finance. However, the intertwining of government policies with private enterprise interests has sparked widespread ethical and legal controversies. The New York Times points out that global free finance has "blurred the lines between private enterprise and government policy in unprecedented ways," and its operational methods have raised serious concerns about political corruption and conflicts of interest.

A survey by The New York Times also found that World Freedom Finance secretly solicited millions of dollars from other cryptocurrency startups in exchange for cross-promotion and close ties with Trump. World Freedom Finance denies any wrongdoing and claims that this type of promotion is standard practice in the industry. The company promoted these "token swaps" as "joint investments." However, several executives believe this is actually a blatant cash endorsement.

Additionally, at the cryptocurrency conference panel discussion held in Dubai, Eric attended alongside Zach Voitkov, the founder of World Free Finance. Zach Voitkov announced that a venture capital firm backed by the Abu Dhabi government will invest $2 billion using a digital currency provided by World Free Finance. This single deal could generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue for the Trump family and its partners.

Trump Official Token

At the end of April, Trump's token website released an advertisement stating that holders of the Trump memecoin ($Trump memecoin) would have the chance to dine with Trump. A memecoin is a type of cryptocurrency issued based on internet memes or celebrity mascots, which has no practical use other than speculation. The $Trump memecoin is controlled by a company run by Trump's son and his business partners, but Trump actively encourages supporters to buy it.

The token website claims that the top 220 holders will be invited to a special dinner with the president on May 22. The top 25 wealthy individuals will attend a special reception before the dinner and participate in a "special VIP White House tour" the following day. The website states that this event is "the most exclusive invitation in the world."

Users must register by connecting their wallets on the website to indicate their intention to participate. Then, they need to start accumulating tokens to ensure they are ahead. This will create buying pressure and pump the token price. Invitations will be determined based on the average balance as of May 12. At the end of last month, the 25th holder already had over 1 million tokens worth more than 13 million dollars. After the advertisement was released, the token price surged over 60%, but the official website later removed the mention of "the White House."

As of April 2025, Trump-related entities have earned approximately $349 million through transaction fees. This token project has also been labeled a "politicized Ponzi scheme" by critics.

Membership Club "Executive Department"

Donald Trump Jr. and his business partners are launching a Washington D.C. exclusive club called "The Executive Branch" as a private gathering place for donors and business tycoons to interact with senior Trump officials.

To become a member of the Executive Branch, you need to pay a membership fee of $500,000. According to the organizers, many of the club's memberships have been sold out. The private club is expected to open this summer in a sprawling but defunct restaurant in Georgetown called Clubhouse. The club will feature two bars, a lounge, a restaurant and a meeting room, recreating what the lobby of the Trump International Hotel in Washington once was. Mr. Trump's donors and followers had gathered here before Mr. Trump sold it at the end of his first term.

The club may soon be filled with friends and family of Trump, corporate executives, and members of the Trump administration, but the public and most members of the media are not allowed in. The club's founding member, Trump's cryptocurrency advisor David Sacks (David Sacks), stated that the goal is not to create a place for communication. He mentioned in a recent podcast, "We want to provide a gathering place for younger, trendier, pro-Trump Republicans in Washington, D.C."

At the end of last month, during his visit to Europe, Donald Trump Jr. held a star-studded party at a hotel near the White House to celebrate the establishment of the U.S. executive branch. Attendees included Attorney General Pam Bondi and the new chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Paul Atkins.

Overseas Real Estate Transactions

According to the ethical oversight organization CREW, at least 19 overseas projects of the Trump brand will be developed in the next four years.

At the end of April, Saudi luxury real estate developer Dar Global and the Trump Organization announced the launch of the Trump International Hotel and Tower to be built in Dubai, and also held a grand celebration at the Dubai World Trade Center. This landmark project marks the completion of the first and only Trump International Hotel and Tower in the Middle East, as well as the fifth collaboration between Dar Global and the Trump Organization.

According to reports, this building will reach 80 stories, including a five-star hotel, luxury residential units, a private members' club, and the highest outdoor swimming pool in the world. Residential prices start at $1 million, with penthouse apartments priced at up to $20 million. The project also accepts cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin as a payment method for purchasing residences. The slogan written on the building's brochure states: "Challenge everything."

In addition to building the Trump Tower, the Trump Organization recently announced a partnership with the Qatari state-owned real estate company Qatari Diar and Dar Global to develop a luxury golf resort in the West Maimas area, about 40 kilometers north of Doha.

The project is named "Trump International Golf Club" and includes an 18-hole golf course, a club house, and a range of upscale villas facing the beach. The entire project covers approximately 790,000 square meters, with an expected total investment of $5.5 billion. Qatari Diar is a company wholly owned by the Qatari government, while the Trump Organization had made an ethical commitment at the beginning of its second term not to "directly collaborate with foreign governments."

Last month, Trump held a Saudi-backed LIV Golf Championship at his Doral Club in Florida. Notably, Trump's first overseas visit during his second term will be to the Middle East. Trump will travel to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE from May 13 to May 16, 2025.

Eric Trump pointed out that many projects they are pushing, from cryptocurrency to real estate, have been in preparation before their father’s re-election. In a statement to The New York Times, Eric Trump said, "We are building some of the most iconic projects in the world and leading the digital revolution."

Little Donald's Overseas Visit Journey

While Eric was helping the Trump Organization secure a series of real estate project deals, his brother Donald Jr. was also busy overseas. From late April to early May, Donald Jr. visited Hungary, Romania, Serbia, and Bulgaria for what he called a "Trump Business Vision 2025" paid speaking tour, during which he also met with foreign government leaders and political candidates.

Little Donald arrived in Budapest on April 25 and had a brief meeting with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, then was hired to attend a dinner for business leaders. Little Donald told an executive from the dinner organizers, "I am here not just for business, but to understand how the world works." He stated that he would be looking for potential new deals in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, as you never know if there might be a Trump real estate deal.

In Serbia, the Trump family plans to build a new hotel on land owned by the local government. He met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, and the hotel project has been approved by the Serbian government. Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner is also the developer of the project.

Subsequently, little Donald appeared on stage in Bulgaria with Nexo co-founder Antoni Trenchev. The company was fined $45 million by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in 2023 and agreed to exit the U.S. market. Accompanied by little Donald, Trenchev announced that Nexo had communicated with U.S. regulators and would re-enter the U.S. market. Trenchev stated, "America is back—Nexo is back,"

Donald Trump Jr. denied any claims that he used his father's name for business, stating that he has been engaged in business activities since becoming an adult. He also criticized Hunter Biden, claiming that Hunter was involved in selling artworks while his father Biden was serving as president.

Donald Trump Jr. stated in a statement to The New York Times: "It's ridiculous that left-wing media think I should lock myself in a padded room during my father's presidency and stop doing the work I've been doing for over 25 years to make a living and support my five children. However, if I really did that, I guess I could try painting, which I hear is quite a profitable industry."

Allies of the Trump family pointed out that Donald Jr. and Eric have long conducted their business careers independently of their father's political position, and stated that their recent actions are consistent with their previous behavior. The White House stated that there are no ethical issues since Trump's sons run these businesses. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said, "The president's assets are managed by his children, and there is no conflict of interest." However, the financial disclosure reports that Trump is legally required to submit show that he still derives economic benefits from these investments.

The American media Axios sharply pointed out that Trump's first term blurred the lines between public office and private interests, while his second term completely erased that boundary—turning the presidency into a profit engine for his brand and family.