Nearly seven in 10 Americans believe President Donald Trump’s private business interests influence his decisions in office, while a separate majority say his family’s cryptocurrency profits are inappropriate, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.
The survey found that 69 percent of respondents thought Trump’s business holdings affect his presidential decision-making, including about two-thirds of independents and nine in 10 Democrats. The result also crossed party lines, with roughly half of Republican respondents saying business considerations influence the president.
Trump’s crypto ties raised further questions
Around 63 percent of Americans said it was inappropriate for Trump and his family to profit from cryptocurrency ventures while he is in office, compared with 32 percent who viewed the activity as appropriate.
Republican voters were more supportive, with about seven in 10 saying the crypto activity was acceptable, while roughly three in 10 disagreed.
The White House rejected suggestions that Trump’s private interests shape government policy, maintaining that his investments are managed independently.
“There are no conflicts of interest,” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said, adding that Trump acts in the interests of the public.
Trump has also said he is not involved in the day-to-day management of his family’s businesses.
Richard Painter, who served as the top ethics lawyer under former President George W. Bush, said the scale of the overlap between political power and private business interests stands apart from previous administrations.
“We have seen nothing like this before,” Painter said.
The poll also pointed to wider concerns over corruption in Washington, with 49 percent of respondents saying Republicans were more corrupt, compared with 41 percent who chose Democrats.
Lawmakers are also questioning Trump’s crypto interests
Concerns over Trump’s crypto-related activity are not limited to voters. Sen. Elizabeth Warren last month asked the president to voluntarily release an updated financial disclosure covering his finances through July 15, arguing that lawmakers need a clearer picture of his crypto holdings as they consider major digital-asset legislation.
Warren said Trump’s 2025 disclosure showed roughly $1.4 billion in crypto-related income and warned that any market-structure bill could increase the value of assets held by the president and his family.
The pressure grew after regulators approved a national trust bank charter for Trump-backed World Liberty Financial on Aug. 14.
Warren and nine other senators responded by backing the Ending Presidential Corruption in Banking Act, which would bar presidents, vice presidents, their immediate families and other senior officials from owning or controlling banks.
Crypto ownership rules remain one of CLARITY’s toughest hurdles
A major part of the CLARITY Act debate now centers on ethics rules for public officials with crypto interests.
Democrats want tougher rules that would limit how senior officials and their families can profit from crypto. The July 22 draft would stop public officials and their spouses from issuing or backing digital assets, but it would not extend that ban to other family members.
Sens. Ruben Gallego and Thom Tillis later sent revised compromise language to the White House, though the details have not been made public.
The dispute remains one of the main obstacles to securing enough bipartisan support for the bill to advance in the Senate.
