A new national poll reveals widespread concerns about President Donald Trump's financial interests, with nearly six in ten Americans believing he has used the presidency to profit either illegally or unethically.
The Associated Press-NORC survey, released October 13, found that 59% of Americans believe Trump has personally profited from holding office in ways that are illegal or unethical. Only 18% believe he has done nothing wrong.
The findings raise questions about public trust in a president whose family businesses have expanded into cryptocurrency, international real estate, and other ventures during his second term.
Whose Interests Come First?
Perhaps the most revealing findings concern where Americans believe Trump's priorities lie.
According to the survey:
- 56% believe Trump has focused heavily on his personal business interests.
- 54% believe he has prioritized the financial interests of friends and family.
- 23% believe he has placed significant emphasis on the country as a whole.
- 11% believe he has focused heavily on helping ordinary Americans like themselves.
The contrast is striking. Americans are far more likely to believe their president is concentrating on his own financial affairs than on improving their lives.
A Presidency Worth Billions?
The polling arrives amid growing scrutiny of the Trump family's expanding business empire.
According to Reuters, Trump's family cryptocurrency ventures generated more than $1.4 billion in income during 2025, including businesses associated with World Liberty Financial and Trump-branded digital tokens.
Meanwhile, the administration has pursued policies favorable to the cryptocurrency industry, creating questions about potential conflicts between presidential responsibilities and private financial interests.
The Associated Press also reported that one major Trump cryptocurrency venture received a $500 million investment from a United Arab Emirates business connected to the country's royal family.
Beyond cryptocurrency, the Trump Organization reportedly secured eight foreign real estate deals during Trump's first year back in office.
These transactions are not, by themselves, proof of illegal conduct. However, they have intensified scrutiny of the relationship between presidential power and private financial gain.
Even Some Republicans Have Questions
The survey revealed substantial partisan differences.
Approximately eight in ten Democrats believe Trump has profited illegally from the presidency, compared with roughly three in ten independents and one in ten Republicans.
Others believe his conduct may be unethical without necessarily violating the law.
The White House rejects allegations of wrongdoing, maintaining that Trump has no conflicts of interest and that his decisions serve the American public. The Trump Organization has also said that independent financial institutions manage the president's investments.
The Question Americans Are Asking
Trump returned to the White House promising to put America first.
Yet the latest polling reveals that many Americans question whether his personal financial interests are receiving more attention than the needs of the country.
The survey does not establish that Trump committed a crime. It does, however, document widespread public concern about the financial benefits associated with his presidency.
And with only 11% of Americans believing Trump has focused heavily on people like themselves, the findings expose a significant gap between the administration's stated priorities and public perceptions.
For a president who built his political identity around putting America first, the question raised by this poll is straightforward: Who is benefiting most from his presidency?