A recent poll reveals that a majority of Americans believe former President Donald Trump is profiting from the presidency in ways they consider unethical or potentially illegal, and that he is more focused on his personal wealth than on serving the public. The survey, conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, highlights widespread skepticism about Trump’s financial dealings during his time in office.
According to the poll, approximately 60% of U.S. adults think Trump is either illegally benefiting from the presidency or engaging in conduct they view as unethical but not unlawful. In contrast, only about 20% believe he is not doing anything wrong, while a similar proportion say they lack sufficient information to form an opinion.
The survey also finds that just over half of Americans feel Trump has prioritized his personal financial interests “a lot” since returning to the White House. By comparison, about a quarter of respondents believe he has placed the same emphasis on the nation’s broader interests, and roughly 10% say he is focused heavily on people like themselves.
During his second term, Trump relaxed restrictions he had imposed on his family’s involvement in private-sector deals overseas, and initiated several new cryptocurrency ventures. At the outset of this term, he downplayed concerns about conflicts of interest, stating in an interview that “nobody cared.”
The poll indicates that skepticism about Trump’s handling of his business interests extends across party lines. While fewer Republicans express concern compared to Democrats and independents, less than half of Republicans say he has limited the priority he gives to personal business pursuits. Only about 25% of respondents overall believe he has moderately or minimally focused on his personal financial interests during his time in office.
The findings underscore ongoing questions about the intersection of public duty and private gain during Trump’s presidency, particularly given the expansion of his family’s business activities coinciding with policies enacted under his administration.
