Donald Trump's second term has transformed the U.S. presidency into something rarely seen before — a global franchise powered by his name and run by his family.
Just days before his January 2025 inauguration, Trump launched a meme-based cryptocurrency that briefly reached a market value of $14.5 billion. Blockchain records indicate that entities tied to the coin collected nearly $100 million in trading fees in less than two weeks.
Beyond cryptocurrency, the Trump brand has expanded into sneakers, fragrances, smartphones, and mobile plans, generating a steady stream of royalties. In 2024 alone, Trump earned at least $26 million from these ventures, according to a Reuters calculation.
This episode examines how Trump's public role and private ventures have become deeply intertwined, raising questions about ethics, conflicts of interest, and how far the U.S. presidency can be leveraged as a business empire.
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Trump 2.0: Presidential power, priced and sold | EP①
Planning | Steven Yuen
Reporter | Lydia, Leng Zhixing (intern), Lin Ying (intern)
Video Script | Lydia
Video Editor | Wingheng
Cameraman | Lydia
Cover Designer | Cai Junru
Text | Lydia
Editor | Steven Yuen, James, Shen He
