Key facts
- 63% of Americans find it inappropriate for President Donald Trump and his family to profit from cryptocurrency investments while he is in office.
- 69% of Americans believe Trump's private business interests influence his presidential decisions.
- Roughly half of Republicans believe Trump lets business interests sway his decisions.
- About seven in 10 Republicans find the family's crypto dealings appropriate.
- Trump reportedly earned over $1.4 billion from crypto ventures, including World Liberty Financial and a meme coin.
- The White House denies any conflicts of interest regarding Trump's crypto investments.
A new Reuters/Ipsos poll indicates that a majority of Americans find it inappropriate for President Donald Trump and his family to profit from cryptocurrency investments while he is in office. The survey of 1,166 U.S. adults, conducted from August 14-17, found that 63% believe these dealings are inappropriate, while 32% found them appropriate.
A larger share, 69%, believe the president's private business interests are shaping his decisions in office. This sentiment includes two-thirds of independents and nine in 10 Democrats. Notably, about half of Trump's fellow Republicans also believe his business interests influence his decisions, though approximately seven in 10 Republicans still consider the family's crypto dealings appropriate.
These findings add data to ongoing scrutiny of the Trump family's financial activities. Financial disclosures revealed that Trump earned over $1.4 billion from crypto ventures, including World Liberty Financial and his self-branded meme coin. These figures have prompted legislative efforts, such as Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's push to bar elected officials from launching meme coins and Senate Democrats' demands for hearings into the profits.
The White House has rejected any suggestion of impropriety, with spokesperson Anna Kelly stating there are no conflicts of interest and that Trump acts solely in the public's interest. The president has maintained he does not play a day-to-day role in the family business and that his investments are managed independently.
The poll emerges as ethics questions intersect with policy discussions. Lawmakers are currently debating provisions in the Clarity Act, which aims to restrict the president's crypto ventures. A cloture vote for the bill is scheduled for September 15.