Trump deflected criticism of business income to his children: 'I have nothing to do with it, they are running it'

US President Donald Trump brought his family into play during an interview with CNBC to reject allegations that he profited unjustly during his presidency. Trump denied a link between his presidential duties and commercial activities, arguing that all business decisions are managed by his children and that he is not directly involved in these processes. This meeting in the Oval Office was considered significant coming after over $2 billion in income featured in the President's financial disclosures that sparked controversy.

Stating that his son Eric Trump is responsible for managing his investments, Trump expressed that he felt sorry for his children due to the scrutiny they faced and reiterated that he has fully delegated his authority to them. However, the public and experts continue to debate whether Trump's rejection of responsibility creates a legal and ethical basis. The President's statements are evaluated as a new line of defense against allegations that he used his position in the White House to increase the family fortune.

The most controversial part of the financial documents is the $500 million revenue obtained from World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency company Trump founded with his sons in 2024, and total crypto asset gains reaching $1.4 billion. Tax experts and the media suggest that a president being involved in such a large commercial activity during his term is historically unprecedented and undermines the dignity of the office. Critics emphasize that even if managed by the children, the income flows to the Trump family and this constitutes a clear conflict of interest.

In addition to crypto income, Trump's disclosed revenues include $635 million from $TRUMP meme coin sales and hundreds of millions of dollars from his properties. Significant properties such as Mar-a-Lago, Trump Doral, and Trump Tower Chicago, as well as legal damages from media companies and book royalties, also hold a significant share in the total revenue item. In his statement to CNBC, Trump claimed that even if he was unaware of the crypto income, it was not a wrong thing, adding that he thought his success in the business world was one of the main reasons for his election.