Trump says ‘nothing illegal’ about massive crypto profits

Administration Trump says ‘nothing illegal’ about massive crypto profits Comments: by Julia Manchester - 07/02/26 6:32 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Julia Manchester - 07/02/26 6:32 PM ET Comments: Link copied

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President Trump denied on Thursday there was anything illegal in the massive profits from cryptocurrency seen in his financial disclosure forms released this week.

“I could know about it. I didn’t. There’s nothing illegal. There’s nothing wrong with it I could know,” Trump said in an interview with CNBC on Thursday.

The president’s personal financial disclosures released on Tuesday showed he raked in more than $500 million from World Liberty Financial, the cryptocurrency venture he co-founded with his sons Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr.

The Trumps launched the venture in fall 2024 as the then-presidential candidate embraced the crypto industry during his campaign.

World Liberty Financial has faced controversy during Trump’s second term, as critics have accused the president and his family of conflicts of interest.

When asked by CNBC if he had anything to do with the large sum of money he made from cryptocurrency, Trump warned the U.S. needs to lead in the industry in an effort to offset China.

“The way I view crypto is a little differently: We have to be at the top,“ he said. “Like for instance AI. We’re leading substantially in AI over China and everybody else.”

Trump and his family have faced repeated criticism of profiting off the presidency.

He argued Thursday that because of the size and scope of the presidency, his children “have inside information” in almost any business decision or move.

“Almost anything they do, if they want to buy a truck, if they buy an energy efficient truck, they have inside information,” he said.