{"text":[[{"start":16.1,"text":"Donald Trump bought up to $1.4bn in stocks last year, according to an FT analysis, boosting his personal holdings in a string of big US companies while he moved markets from the White House."}],[{"start":28.25,"text":"The series of financial disclosures released this week show the extent of the billionaire president’s gains in his personal fortune during his first year back in the White House, as he launched a global trade war, signed into law massive tax cuts and attacked Iran. The president disclosed at least $2.2bn in outside income last year from crypto ventures, real estate, licensing, legal settlements and stock sales, the documents show."}],[{"start":55.65,"text":"Trump declared making more than 22,000 stock transactions in 2025, according to the FT analysis. His immediate predecessor, Joe Biden, disclosed 13 transactions over four years. In his first term, Trump said he made 517."}],[{"start":null,"text":"
"}],[{"start":73,"text":"The stock transactions do not allow precise analysis, as the purchases and sales are only disclosed in broad ranges. The amount Trump may have bought may be as high as $1.4bn or as low as $461mn. His sales lie between $138mn and $433mn. "}],[{"start":93.1,"text":"FT analysis of the filings, however, shows the stock purchases were made via eight investment accounts, seven of which were closely tracking a broad cross-section of the US stock market."}],[{"start":103.75,"text":"The eighth account, however, appeared to be engaged in more exotic stockpicking, with chosen companies including restaurant chain Kura Sushi and arms company Kratos Defence."}],[{"start":114.45,"text":"A spokesperson for the Trump Organization told the FT in May that Trump’s “investment holdings are maintained exclusively through fully discretionary accounts independently managed by third-party financial institutions with sole and exclusive authority over all investment decisions”. "}],[{"start":131.65,"text":"“Neither President Trump, his family, nor The Trump Organization plays any role in selecting, directing or approving specific investments.”"}],[{"start":141.20000000000002,"text":"The spokesperson did not immediately respond to additional requests for comment on Wednesday."}],[{"start":147.10000000000002,"text":"But while the purchases often appeared to be mechanically following market indices, Trump’s portfolio gives him significant direct exposure to big companies which are particularly affected by public policy."}],[{"start":159.05,"text":"He bought shares in a number of tech stocks, including up to $70mn of Microsoft, $63mn of Apple, $21mn of Broadcom and $33mn of Amazon."}],[{"start":170.65,"text":"Trump bought up to $67mn of shares in Nvidia, the largest company by market cap, which rose 39 per cent last year. He has, since taking office, discussed the company during at least 31 public events and 19 times on social media. Nvidia has been at the centre of international negotiations over the use of its semiconductor chips."}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":194.35,"text":"Ethics experts have loudly criticised Trump’s enormous moneymaking operation, spanning crypto to foreign real estate to stock transactions of corporations who are regulated by or profit from the US government. "}],[{"start":206.6,"text":"“Lack of control does not eliminate a conflict with a financial interest,” Walter Shaub, the Office of Government Ethics director under Barack Obama, told the FT. “Only divesting a financial interest can eliminate a conflict of interest. Otherwise, you still have the investment and it can still be affected by whatever you do in government.”"}],[{"start":226.6,"text":"Trump, who touted his name in gold on real estate projects around the world, still makes a significant amount of money through licensing deals. He made more than $58mn in licensing fees from foreign real estate projects, including in India, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, last year."}],[{"start":245.1,"text":"In the US, Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort generated $77.5mn in revenue, while three of his golf courses — in Bedminster, New Jersey; Jupiter, Florida; and Virginia — made over $94mn."}],[{"start":259,"text":"But his biggest cash-making operation appears to be the crypto companies founded by his sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr, particularly World Liberty Financial, which launched near the end of the 2024 presidential campaign."}],[{"start":273.35,"text":"The president earned more than $1.16bn in crypto sales and memecoin royalties last year, including $526.8mn from WLFI token sales, while his administration dropped the significant Biden-era cases against the industry’s top companies."}],[{"start":292.25,"text":"Additional reporting by Michael Taffe"}],[{"start":301.90000000000003,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1782955395_5832.mp3"}