Majority of Americans Question President Trump’s Second-Term Business Gains
Washington, Tuesday, 13 October 2026.
A new poll reveals nearly 60% of Americans believe President Donald Trump is illegally or unethically profiting from office, driven by his foreign deals and $1 billion crypto earnings.
Poll Reveals Skepticism on Presidential Profiteering
A new AP-NORC poll released on October 12, 2026, indicates that approximately 60% of U.S. adults believe President Donald Trump is either illegally profiting from the presidency or behaving unethically [1][4][5]. Only about 20% of respondents believe the President is doing nothing wrong regarding these allegations [1][5]. This survey highlights growing public scrutiny regarding potential conflicts of interest and executive ethics during the second term [1].
Priorities Under Scrutiny
Regarding national priorities, 56% of Americans believe Trump has prioritized his personal business interests a lot since returning to the White House [4][5]. In contrast, only 23% of Americans believe Trump has prioritized the country overall a lot during the same period [4]. The gap between perceived personal prioritization and national prioritization stands at 33 percentage points [4].
Partisan Divides and Voter Sentiment
Political affiliation significantly influences perceptions of legality, with 80% of Democrats viewing Trump’s actions as illegal compared to 10% of Republicans [4][5]. Independent voters fall in between, with 30% believing the President’s actions are illegal [4]. These findings mirror partisan splits observed in previous polling regarding executive ethics [4].
Voices from the Electorate
Barbara Thaxton, an independent voter from Florida, noted that while Trump’s wealth increases, people in the country are barely getting by [1][5]. Oscar Delgado, a Democrat from Michigan, stated he wanted a change but did not expect this specific type of change [5]. Such comments reflect the broader sentiment captured in the survey data [5].
Cryptocurrency Earnings and Deregulation
In a June 2026 federal financial disclosure, Trump reported earning over $1 billion from new cryptocurrency businesses [1][5]. This sector has seen regulatory loosening during the current administration [1]. One major crypto venture received a $500 million investment from a United Arab Emirates business linked to the royal family [1][5].
International Business Interests
The Trump Organization has executed eight foreign real estate deals in the first year of the second term [1][5]. Several of these deals are located in authoritarian or one-party states [1]. Trump lifted a self-imposed ban on his family conducting private-sector deals overseas at the start of his second term [1][5].
Economic Approval Ratings
Economic approval has fallen to a new low of 26% among U.S. adults [3]. Just 17% of U.S. adults approve of his handling of living costs [3]. Republican congressional candidate Jay Feely argued that most price increases occurred under the Biden administration [3].
Campaigning Amidst Controversy
President Trump is scheduled to travel to Alaska on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, to campaign for a Republican incumbent senator [2]. This trip reflects concerns regarding GOP control of Congress ahead of the November 3, 2026, midterm elections [2]. A bipartisan group of six senators is also demanding the administration reverse a plan to purchase diesel from Russia [2].