White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt staunchly defended President Donald Trump against allegations of personal financial gain during a press briefing on Friday. Responding to questions about the president’s promotion of a meme-based cryptocurrency and planned visits to Trump-branded properties during an upcoming Middle East trip, Leavitt dismissed the concerns as unfounded.
“I think it’s frankly ridiculous that anyone in this room would even suggest that President Trump is doing anything for his own benefit,” Leavitt asserted. She emphasized that Trump had left behind a successful business empire to serve the public, stating, “He left a life of luxury and a life of running a very successful real estate empire for public service, not just once, but twice.”
Leavitt further argued that the president has actually incurred financial losses due to his time in office, countering narratives that suggest otherwise. She also criticized the media for not applying the same level of scrutiny to President Biden, claiming a double standard in the treatment of the two administrations.
The press secretary addressed concerns over a MAGA-organized dinner event, where top investors in the Trump meme coin could win a dinner with the president. Leavitt maintained that Trump abides by all conflict of interest laws and maintains ethical standards, asserting that his actions are in the best interest of the American public, reported the Daily Beast.
Despite Leavitt’s denials, reports indicate that Trump’s fortune has more than doubled in the past year, partly due to the success of his $TRUMP digital token, which has generated substantial revenue. His upcoming trip to the Middle East includes stops in countries with Trump-branded projects, raising further ethical concerns.
