Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• DOJ settled with pardoned Michael Flynn for $1.2 million — The Justice Department reached a settlement with pardoned former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn, awarding him $1.2 million in taxpayer funds. Flynn had previously pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his conversations with Russia's ambassador to the United States and was later pardoned by Trump. The settlement represents a reversal of the government's position against Flynn.
• Justice Department Settles with Michael Flynn — The U.S. Department of Justice has reached a settlement with Michael Flynn, a former national security advisor to Donald Trump. This settlement is part of a series of financial agreements that have resulted in Trump allies receiving substantial sums of taxpayer money. The details of the settlement have not been disclosed, but it continues a pattern of financial dealings involving individuals close to the former president. This development raises questions about the use of public funds and the accountability of government financial settlements.
• Michael Flynn and DOJ settled political targeting lawsuit — Michael Flynn and the Department of Justice agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by Flynn over his claims of political targeting in a 2017 case in which he initially pleaded guilty. A judge had previously tossed Flynn's lawsuit in 2024. His attorneys filed an amended complaint last June after Trump took office. Flynn served as National Security Advisor during Trump's first term before resigning after less than a month.
• DOJ announced settlement with Michael Flynn — The Department of Justice announced a settlement with Michael Flynn, Trump's former national security advisor who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about conversations with Russian operative Sergey Kislyak before Trump took office. Trump later pardoned Flynn, who subsequently worked to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Flynn had sued the DOJ for $50 million in damages in 2023, claiming wrongful prosecution due to his association with Trump. A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit in 2024, but Flynn's lawyers renewed the case after Trump's reelection, leading to DOJ negotiations. The settlement amount was approximately $1.2 million.
• DOJ announces settlement with Michael Flynn — The Department of Justice announced a settlement with Michael Flynn, Trump's former national security advisor, who had previously pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI. Flynn's lawsuit against the DOJ for $50 million was dismissed, but negotiations led to a settlement, reportedly amounting to approximately $1.2 million.

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• New York attorney Joshua Nass charged with attempted extortion of client over unpaid fees — Joshua Nass, a 34-year-old New York lobbyist and attorney connected to a Trump pardon issued in November 2025, was arrested and charged in federal court in Brooklyn with attempted Hobbs Act extortion. Prosecutors allege Nass threatened a former client and the client's son over an alleged $500,000–$600,000 debt for lobbying services, instructing an associate to intimidate the client at his home and threatening physical assault or kidnapping. Nass was released on a $5 million bond secured by five properties and $50,000 cash, with GPS monitoring imposed.

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• House Democrats demand DOJ briefing on removal of antitrust chief Gail Slater — House Democrats Jamie Raskin and Jerry Nadler requested a briefing from Attorney General Pam Bondi regarding the forced resignation of Gail Slater, head of the antitrust division, in February 2026. Slater's removal followed her attempt to block a $14 billion Hewlett Packard Enterprise–Juniper Networks merger and alleged interference by Trump-connected lobbyists. The letter raised concerns about potential corruption, the role of Trump allies including Mike Davis, and questioned DOJ handling of multiple high-profile merger cases and antitrust matters.
• Gail Slater forced to resign as antitrust chief amid Trump administration pressure — Gail Slater, assistant attorney general for the antitrust division, was forced to resign in February 2026 after her relationship with Attorney General Pam Bondi and Vice President JD Vance deteriorated. Her removal followed her effort to block the $14 billion Hewlett Packard Enterprise–Juniper Networks merger and her claims that the intelligence community had not raised national security concerns. Trump-connected lobbyist Mike Davis, retained by Hewlett Packard Enterprise, publicly took credit for her removal. The DOJ subsequently dropped the antitrust suit in favor of a settlement.

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• Trump profited $4.05 billion from presidency in first year — The New Yorker's David Kirkpatrick calculated that Trump and his immediate family made $4.05 billion in the past year off the presidency, using a conservative methodology that excluded pre-existing businesses, long-standing extensions of those businesses, and illiquid assets like Truth Social shares. Even with these exclusions, the figure reached $3.4 billion by August 2025, with additional profits accumulated since then. The calculation does not account for political fundraising or assets that could not be readily liquidated.

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• Trump discusses settling $10 billion IRS lawsuit with himself — While traveling to Florida on Air Force One, President Trump responded to a reporter's question about handling his $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS by suggesting he could settle the case with himself and direct the settlement funds to charities of his choosing, implying that taking American taxpayer money would enable him to use it for public good as he determines.
• Trump claimed he will settle Mar-a-Lago lawsuit with himself — Trump was asked about his $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS for leaked tax returns. Trump stated: "I've virtually won the Mar-a-Lago break-in suit. And you know I have to work out some kind of a settlement. I'm supposed to work out a settlement with myself." Trump claimed he would donate any settlement to charity, but the statement indicates that Trump's DOJ will be settling multiple cases with Trump's lawyers to pay him taxpayer money.

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• Trump administration claims US oil companies will invest billions in Venezuelan oil production; industry expresses skepticism — President Trump predicted that major US oil firms (ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, Chevron) will rapidly invest tens of billions of dollars to rebuild Venezuelan oil infrastructure and increase production following the rendition of President Nicolás Maduro. Trump claimed production could be "up and running" in less than 18 months. However, industry experts and the oil companies themselves have expressed caution, citing lack of government guarantees for reimbursement and uncertainty about Venezuela's political future. Analysts estimate actual timelines of 2–3 years minimum, with total costs potentially reaching $80–90 billion.
• Trump told NBC U.S. taxpayers will fund Venezuelan oil extraction — Trump told NBC that the U.S. oil industry could have Venezuelan oil exploitation "up and running" in less than 18 months, but that U.S. taxpayers will have to pay a substantial amount to make it happen. Trump stated that oil companies will spend money on extraction and upgrading, "and then they'll get reimbursed by us."

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• Trump pardoned former Honduras president convicted of drug trafficking — Trump issued a pardon to the former president of Honduras who was serving a 45-year sentence for trafficking more than 500 tons of cocaine. This pardon directly contradicts Trump's stated justification for invading Venezuela—removing a drug trafficker from power—and was issued without explanation from Trump or his administration.

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• Anonymous Polymarket account placed $30,000 bet on Maduro ouster hours before Trump announced his capture, profiting $400,000 — On January 2, 2026, hours before Trump announced the U.S. had captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, an anonymous Polymarket account bet over $30,000 that Maduro would be ousted. At the time of the bet, Polymarket showed only an 8% probability of this outcome. By the next morning, the account cashed out over $400,000 in winnings. The account, created in December 2025, had placed its first bet on December 27 for $96 predicting a U.S. invasion of Venezuela, followed by several related bets in the following days. Experts on prediction markets and insider trading told news outlets the bets had hallmarks of insider trading, citing the late-night timing, large amount, and unregulated market.

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• Trump administration's $20 billion Argentina bailout revealed to benefit Treasury Secretary's personal associate — Popular Information revealed that the Trump administration's $20 billion bailout of Argentina would benefit hedge fund billionaire Robert Citrone, a personal friend and former colleague of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The reporting became national news, covered by CNN, The New Yorker, The New York Times, and CNBC. Over 50 members of Congress cited Popular Information's work in a letter demanding answers from Secretary Bessent about his ties to Citrone.

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• Trump pardoned David Gentile, architect of 1.6 billion dollar Ponzi scheme — Trump issued a presidential pardon for David Gentile, the architect of a 1.6 billion dollar Ponzi scheme that defrauded thousands of regular investors. The pardon received minimal national media coverage compared to the scale of the fraud and harm to victims.

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• Trump pardoned Juan Orlando Hernández, former Honduran president convicted of cocaine trafficking — Trump issued a presidential pardon for Juan Orlando Hernández, the former president of Honduras who was convicted at federal trial of trafficking more than 400 tons of cocaine into the United States. Trial testimony linked Hernández directly to the Sinaloa Cartel, with statements such as "Stuff the drugs right up the noses of the gringos." Republican senators questioned about the pardon claimed ignorance of the facts and circumstances, despite national security being part of their oversight responsibilities.
• Trump pardoned former president of Honduras convicted of drug trafficking — In a new interview with Politico, Trump stated that he pardoned the former president of Honduras who was convicted in a massive international drug trafficking scheme. When asked how this aligns with his zero-tolerance drug trafficking policy, Trump responded that he does not know the individual and knows very little about him other than that people said it was like an "Obama-Biden type set up where he was set up."

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• Trump pardons entertainment executive indicted by DOJ for bid-rigging conspiracy — Donald Trump issued a full and unconditional pardon on Tuesday for Tim Leiweke, co-founder of Oak View Group, who had been indicted by the Trump administration's own Justice Department in July 2025 on charges of orchestrating a conspiracy to rig the bidding process for an arena at a public university in Austin, Texas. Leiweke had pleaded not guilty and was scheduled to stand trial in 2026. The pardon was posted to the DOJ website on Wednesday with no explanation provided.

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• Trump administration removed restrictions on Nvidia chip sales to foreign countries — Following contact between Nvidia's CEO and White House officials facilitated by David Sacks, the Trump administration removed restrictions on Nvidia's chip sales to foreign countries. The change could net Nvidia as much as $200 billion.
• David Sacks advises White House on AI and cryptocurrency while investing in affected companies — The New York Times reported that David Sacks, a technology entrepreneur and early associate of Peter Thiel and Elon Musk, advises the White House on AI and cryptocurrency policy while simultaneously investing in companies that benefit from those policies. Sacks facilitated contact between Silicon Valley leaders, including Nvidia's CEO, and White House officials. Shortly after, the government removed restrictions on Nvidia's chip sales to foreign countries, a change potentially worth $200 billion to the company.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration removed restrictions on Nvidia chip sales to foreign countries — Following contact between Nvidia's CEO and White House officials facilitated by David Sacks, the Trump administration removed restrictions on Nvidia's chip sales to foreign countries. The change could net Nvidia as much as $200 billion.
• David Sacks advises White House on AI and cryptocurrency while investing in affected companies — The New York Times reported that David Sacks, a technology entrepreneur and early associate of Peter Thiel and Elon Musk, advises the White House on AI and cryptocurrency policy while simultaneously investing in companies that benefit from those policies. Sacks facilitated contact between Silicon Valley leaders, including Nvidia's CEO, and White House officials. Shortly after, the government removed restrictions on Nvidia's chip sales to foreign countries, a change potentially worth $200 billion to the company.

Supporting reports

• Trump pardons former Honduran president — Trump announced a full pardon for former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández, who was convicted of drug trafficking. This decision raises questions about the integrity of U.S. foreign policy and the rule of law, given Hernández's criminal history.
• Trump pardons former Honduras president Juan Orlando Hernández convicted of cocaine trafficking conspiracy — Trump announced a full pardon for Juan Orlando Hernández, former president of Honduras, who was found guilty by an American jury last year of conspiring to import 400 tons of cocaine into the United States and was sentenced to 45 years in federal prison. Trump announced the pardon on social media, writing "MAKE HONDURAS GREAT AGAIN!"
• Trump granted pardon to Juan Orlando Hernández, major drug trafficker — Trump announced a pardon for Juan Orlando Hernández, former president of Honduras, who was convicted by a US jury of conspiring to traffic 400 tons of cocaine into the United States. The DOJ estimated this represented 4.5 billion doses of cocaine and that Hernández was at the center of one of the largest and most violent drug-trafficking conspiracies in the world.
• Trump justified Hernández pardon by claiming Biden setup — When asked to explain the pardon of Juan Orlando Hernández, Trump stated "Many of the people of Honduras said it was a Biden setup. I looked at the facts and agreed with them." When pressed for evidence, Trump responded that arresting a president for drug trafficking in any country would be unjust.
• Trump pardoned Juan Orlando Hernández, former Honduran president and major narco-trafficker — Trump pardoned Juan Orlando Hernández, the former president of Honduras and one of the world's most notorious narco-traffickers. According to the text, Hernández trafficked hundreds of tons of cocaine into the United States, worked with El Chapo, and openly vowed to "shove cocaine up the noses of gringos until they die." Trump proceeded with the pardon despite these facts.
• Trump pledges pardon for former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández — Donald Trump announced his intention to pardon Juan Orlando Hernández, the former president of Honduras, who was convicted in July 2024 in Manhattan federal court and sentenced to 45 years in prison for cocaine importation and weapons offenses. Trump claimed Hernández was "set up" and that the Honduran people believed he was wrongly prosecuted. The pardon pledge contradicts Trump's stated "war on drugs" agenda, particularly given simultaneous military operations against Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro, whom Trump accuses of narco-trafficking despite weaker evidence of culpability than Hernández's proven conviction.
• Trump pardon of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández — President Trump quietly pardoned Juan Orlando Hernández, former President of Honduras, who is described as one of the most notorious drug traffickers in modern history and who once promised to "shove the drugs right up the noses of the gringos." The pardon occurred while Trump was publicly demanding military action against drug trafficking and criticizing others as "narco terrorists."
• Trump pardoned former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernandez, who was serving a 45-year sentence for drug trafficking and weapons conspiracy. — Trump officially pardoned Juan Orlando Hernandez, the former president of Honduras, who was incarcerated in federal prison serving a 45-year sentence for drug trafficking and conspiracy to traffic weapons into the United States. Hernandez had served less than 2 years of his sentence before being released. According to an immigration attorney, Hernandez was also accused of ordering the murder of a former ally by machete while in prison.
• Trump formally pardoned Juan Orlando Hernández — Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández's lawyer said his client was released from prison after Trump formally pardoned him on Monday evening. Axios reported that Trump's pardon came hours after ally Roger Stone, who had called for the pardon in multiple posts, reached out to the president to lobby for the move.
• Trump pardons entertainment executive indicted by DOJ for bid-rigging conspiracy — Donald Trump issued a full and unconditional pardon on Tuesday for Tim Leiweke, co-founder of Oak View Group, who had been indicted by the Trump administration's own Justice Department in July 2025 on charges of orchestrating a conspiracy to rig the bidding process for an arena at a public university in Austin, Texas. Leiweke had pleaded not guilty and was scheduled to stand trial in 2026. The pardon was posted to the DOJ website on Wednesday with no explanation provided.
• Trump pardons ex-Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández from 45-year drug trafficking sentence — Donald Trump pardoned former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández on December 5, 2025, commuting a 45-year federal sentence for drug trafficking and weapons charges. Hernández had been convicted in March 2024 after a three-week trial in which prosecutors proved he accepted $1 million from cartel kingpin Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán and allowed Honduras to serve as a cocaine trafficking corridor. The pardon occurred while Trump was simultaneously waging a "war on drugs" with military operations in the Pacific and Caribbean, and amid Trump's interference in Honduras's presidential election endorsing Hernández's political ally.

Supporting reports

• Trump announces pardon for former Honduras president Juan Orlando Hernández — Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he will grant a full pardon to Juan Orlando Hernández, the former president of Honduras currently serving a 45-year sentence for drug trafficking and weapons charges. Hernández was convicted in March 2024 of accepting millions in bribes to protect cocaine shipments destined for the US. Trump characterized the conviction as "very harsh and unfair," despite prosecutors describing Hernández as having "paved a cocaine superhighway to the United States." The pardon announcement coincided with Trump's endorsement of Tito Asfura in Honduras's upcoming presidential election.
• Trump announced a pardon for former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández — Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he will grant a full pardon to Juan Orlando Hernández, the former president of Honduras currently serving a 45-year sentence for drug trafficking and weapons charges. Hernández was convicted in March 2024 of accepting millions in bribes to protect cocaine shipments destined for the US. Trump characterized the conviction as "very harsh and unfair," despite Hernández's role in enabling drug traffickers to use Honduras's military and police. The pardon announcement coincided with Trump's endorsement of Tito Asfura in Honduras's upcoming presidential election.
• Trump announced pardon for convicted drug trafficker Juan Orlando Hernández — President Trump announced he would pardon former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was sentenced in the United States to 45 years in prison for trafficking hundreds of tons of cocaine into the country while collaborating with the Sinaloa Cartel. Trump's decision to shield a convicted narco-trafficker contradicts his administration's stated commitment to waging a war on drugs.
• — On Truth Social, Trump announced he would grant a pardon to former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, a convicted drug trafficker sentenced to 45 years in prison in 2024 for conspiring to import cocaine to the US. Trump claimed Hernández was "treated very harshly and unfairly," though then-Attorney General Merrick Garland had described the conspiracy as "one of the largest and most violent drug-trafficking conspiracies in the world."

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• Trump pardons Joe Lewis for insider trading conviction — Donald Trump pardoned Joe Lewis, an 88-year-old British billionaire and former Tottenham Hotspur owner, on November 13, 2025, for his 2024 conviction in a "brazen" insider trading scheme. Lewis had pleaded guilty to securities fraud and conspiracy after prosecutors documented he passed share tips based on inside information to employees and associates. He had been fined $5 million personally and $44 million via his company Broad Bay, and sentenced to three years probation without jail time. The pardon erases the conviction and fines; the White House stated Lewis requested it to receive medical treatment and visit family in the US.
• Trump pardoned pharmacist convicted of health care fraud — Trump quietly pardoned Robert Harshbarger Jr., husband of Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), who in 2013 pleaded guilty to health care fraud and distributing misbranded kidney medications sourced from China that were not FDA-approved. Prosecutors alleged that between 2004 and 2009, Harshbarger's misrepresentations caused Medicare, Medicaid, and other health benefit programs to pay over $845,000 for Chinese drugs falsely represented as FDA-approved American medication.

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• Binance enables trading of Trump-linked cryptocurrencies days after CZ pardon — On October 29, 2025, Binance's U.S. exchange announced it would begin allowing trading of USD1 and WLFI, two cryptocurrencies issued by World Liberty Financial, a company co-founded by Trump and his sons. Trump reportedly owns 15.7 billion WLFI tokens (over 15% of total supply). USD1 is a stablecoin whose reserve assets generate profit for Trump and other owners. The move expands the pool of American investors and directly benefits Trump financially by increasing demand and token value.
• Binance invested $2 billion in Trump-owned stablecoin — Earlier in 2025, Binance accepted a $2 billion investment from an Abu Dhabi investment fund in USD1, a stablecoin issued by World Liberty Financial and owned in part by Trump. The transaction immediately gave USD1 legitimacy and liquidity, and has likely already generated tens of millions for Trump and other World Liberty Financial owners. Binance also wrote the basic code to power USD1 for World Liberty Financial, further deepening the financial relationship.

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• Trump commutes sentence of former Representative George Santos — Trump commuted the sentence of former Representative George Santos (R-NY), ending his seven-year sentence for fraud after only three months served and removing his obligation to pay $373,749.97 in restitution to his victims. Trump has pardoned or commuted sentences for more than 1,600 people, far exceeding typical presidential clemency. Trump's social media post stated: "Santos had the Courage, Conviction, and Intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN!"

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• Trump pardoned cryptocurrency executive Changpeng Zhao — President Trump pardoned Changpeng Zhao, co-founder and former CEO of Binance, on October 23. Zhao had pleaded guilty in 2023 to money laundering, resigned from Binance, paid a $50 million fine, and served a four-month prison sentence. The U.S. government had stated Zhao "caused significant harm to U.S. national security" by allowing terrorist groups like Hamas to move millions of dollars. Trump stated he knew little about Zhao and believed the prosecution was a "Biden witch hunt," citing his support for the cryptocurrency industry.
• Trump pardons Binance founder Changpeng Zhao — Trump announced a full and unconditional pardon for Changpeng Zhao, founder of Binance cryptocurrency exchange, who pleaded guilty in 2023 to money laundering, paid a $50 million fine, and served nearly four months in prison. Binance paid a $4.3 billion penalty. In May 2025, Binance accepted USD1 stablecoin from the Trump family's World Liberty Financial crypto venture as payment for a $2 billion investment, enabling World Liberty Financial to retain tens of millions in annual profits. The pardon enables Zhao to return to business operations.
• Trump pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao — Trump pardoned Changpeng Zhao, the convicted founder of cryptocurrency exchange Binance, following months of lobbying efforts by Zhao to boost the Trump family's own crypto company. The DOJ had argued Zhao's company undermined U.S. sanctions against Iran. Zhao hired Teresa Guillen, who also represents special envoy Steve Witkoff's son, and co-counsel Ches McDowell, a hunting companion of Donald Trump Jr. When asked why he pardoned Zhao, Trump said he did not know which person that was and that Zhao was "recommended by a lot of people."
• Trump pardons Binance founder convicted of money laundering — Donald Trump has pardoned Changpeng Zhao, the founder of Binance, who was convicted of laundering money for terrorist organizations. This action raises ethical concerns regarding the influence of personal interests in presidential pardons.
• Trump pardons Binance founder CZ, convicted of anti-money laundering violations — President Trump pardoned Changpeng Zhao (CZ), founder of Binance, on October 23, 2025. Zhao had pleaded guilty to violating anti-money laundering laws; the Department of Justice stated his conduct "allowed money to flow to terrorists, cybercriminals, and child abusers" through Binance. Zhao served four months in prison and agreed to step down as CEO. The pardon was announced publicly on October 23.
• Binance founder receives pardon after $2 billion transaction with Trump-linked cryptocurrency project — Changpeng Zhao (CZ), Binance founder and CEO, pleaded guilty in November 2023 to willfully failing to maintain anti-money laundering programs, allowing funds to flow to terrorists and cybercriminals. After serving four months in prison, Binance conducted a $2 billion transaction in May 2025 with a UAE investment fund using USD1, a stablecoin created by World Liberty Financial (WLF), in which Trump and family own approximately 38%. Binance provided technical infrastructure and promotion. On October 24, Trump pardoned CZ, who had hired a Trump Jr. associate for $450,000 to lobby for executive relief.

Supporting reports

• LIV Golf partnered with Trump Organization courses generating increased revenues — The Saudi-owned LIV Golf tour has partnered extensively with the Trump Organization, holding events at Trump courses in every season since its founding in 2022, including a tournament at Trump National Doral in April 2025. According to Popular Information, the partnership has coincided with a "jump in golf revenues" at Trump courses. The partnership occurred while the Saudi Public Investment Fund was investing $2 billion in Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners and preceded the Trump administration's May 2025 approval of a $142 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia.
• Saudi Arabia invested $2 billion in Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners — Shortly after Trump left the White House following his first term, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) invested $2 billion in Affinity Partners, the investment firm founded by Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. In January 2025, Kushner funneled a portion of that money to the Trump Organization, announcing the construction of a Trump-branded luxury hotel and apartment complex in Belgrade, Serbia, known as Trump Tower Belgrade, which will have 175 hotel rooms and sell 1,500 residences. The investment preceded a May 2025 Trump administration arms sale to Saudi Arabia worth nearly $142 billion.
• Trump administration approved $142 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia — In May 2025, the Trump administration agreed to sell Saudi Arabia an arms package worth nearly $142 billion. Unlike previous arms sales to Saudi Arabia, which were smaller and focused on defensive weaponry, the Trump deal was expansive, including "state-of-the-art warfighting equipment and services from over a dozen U.S. defense firms." The package also includes extensive training and support from the U.S. military to build the capacity of the Saudi armed forces. A White House fact sheet described the agreement as "historic," representing "a new golden era of partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia." The sale followed the Saudi Public Investment Fund's $2 billion investment in Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners and LIV Golf's partnership with Trump Organization golf courses.
• Trump administration granted UAE access to advanced computer chips — Two weeks after the UAE's $2 billion purchase of USD1 stablecoins in May 2025, the Trump administration agreed to allow the UAE access to hundreds of thousands of the world's most advanced and scarce computer chips. According to the New York Times, the same Emirati royal, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, both made the decision to purchase USD1 and secured the agreement to acquire advanced computer chips. The federal government had previously rejected Tahnoon's requests to purchase advanced chips due to concerns about his ties to China. Steve Witkoff, Trump's envoy to the Middle East who negotiated the chip agreement, has an ownership stake in WLF and his son is CEO of the company.
• UAE purchased $2 billion in USD1 stablecoin from Trump-connected crypto firm — In May 2025, the United Arab Emirates, through its state-backed investment fund MGX, purchased $2 billion worth of USD1, a stablecoin issued by World Liberty Financial (WLF), a Trump-connected crypto firm in which Trump and his family members own approximately 38%. MGX purchased the stablecoins two weeks before WLF publicly announced the issuance of the coin, and then used the stablecoins to invest $2 billion in Binance, a crypto trading platform. According to Popular Information, the transaction gave "legitimacy and scale" to the newly launched stablecoin and should generate tens of millions annually for WLF.
• Qatar invested $1.5 billion in Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners in 2024 — In 2024, a few months before Trump won the presidency, the Qatari government was one of two investors in a $1.5 billion funding round for Affinity Partners, an investment firm founded by Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. Although Kushner had pledged not to be involved in policy-making in Trump's second term, Popular Information reports he has reemerged as one of Trump's top foreign policy advisors. The investment preceded Qatar's May 2025 gift of a luxury 747 jet to the U.S. government and Trump's September 2025 executive order elevating Qatar's diplomatic and security status.

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• Trump administration approves $20 billion bailout for Argentina with admitted minimal U.S. benefit — The Trump administration provided a $20 billion rescue package to Argentina, announced in late September 2025. During an October 14 White House meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei, Trump admitted the bailout "is not going to make a big difference for our country." Popular Information reporting, confirmed by the New York Times, revealed the bailout would substantially benefit billionaire hedge fund manager Rob Citrone, a personal friend of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Citrone was in close contact with Bessent before the announcement, advocating for the bailout to prevent Argentina's currency collapse and protect Milei's political position. The bailout has harmed U.S. soybean farmers, who now face competition from Argentine soybeans sold to China.
• Treasury Secretary Bessent announced $20 billion bailout package for Argentina benefiting hedge fund billionaire Rob Citrone — On October 3, 2025, Popular Information reported that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a $20 billion taxpayer-funded bailout package for Argentina that directly benefits Rob Citrone, a hedge fund billionaire and longtime associate of Bessent. Citrone's hedge fund, Discovery Capital, holds Argentine bonds and stakes in Argentine companies whose value depends on Argentina's economic stability. Argentine media reported that Citrone himself requested the bailout from Bessent. The package was justified as serving U.S. strategic interests, though Bessent did not claim Argentina's economy materially affects the U.S. economy.

Supporting reports

• Barry Bennett became directly involved in securing U.S. rescue package — Barry Bennett, a former Trump advisor and current principal at Tactic Global (the lobbying firm representing Argentina), "became directly involved" in securing the U.S. rescue package announced by Treasury Secretary Bessent, according to CE Noticias Financieras. Bennett's involvement demonstrates how a registered foreign agent with ties to Trump's political operation directly participated in securing U.S. taxpayer funds for Argentina.
• Rob Citrone's hedge fund positioned to gain substantially from Argentina bailout through prior contact with Treasury Secretary — Billionaire hedge fund manager Rob Citrone, founder of Discovery Capital Management, stands to gain immensely from the $20 billion Argentina bailout. Citrone's fund has made Latin America its largest bet globally, with Argentina as its biggest regional investment. According to reporting confirmed by the New York Times, Citrone was in close contact with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in the lead-up to the bailout announcement, arguing that preventing Argentina's currency collapse was necessary to protect President Milei's political position. Citrone and Bessent previously worked together under George Soros in 2013. The arrangement raises concerns about private financial interests influencing U.S. foreign policy decisions.
• Trump administration approves $20 billion bailout for Argentina with admitted minimal U.S. benefit — The Trump administration provided a $20 billion rescue package to Argentina, announced in late September 2025. During an October 14 White House meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei, Trump admitted the bailout "is not going to make a big difference for our country." Popular Information reporting, confirmed by the New York Times, revealed the bailout would substantially benefit billionaire hedge fund manager Rob Citrone, a personal friend of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Citrone was in close contact with Bessent before the announcement, advocating for the bailout to prevent Argentina's currency collapse and protect Milei's political position. The bailout has harmed U.S. soybean farmers, who now face competition from Argentine soybeans sold to China.
• Citrone and Bessent's undisclosed decades-long relationship and financial entanglement — Popular Information reports that hedge fund manager Rob Citrone and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have a personal and professional relationship spanning decades that has not been previously reported in American media. In 2013, while both worked for investor George Soros, Citrone convinced Bessent and Soros to make a large bet on the dollar-yen trade that generated over $1 billion in profits, with Citrone claiming responsibility for 75% of Bessent's bonus. This relationship was not disclosed when Bessent took office as Treasury Secretary.
• Bessent traveled to Argentina and met with Milei following Citrone's intervention — Shortly after securing the IMF agreement, Treasury Secretary Bessent traveled to Argentina to meet with President Javier Milei and other top Argentine officials in what was described as an unusual choice for the Treasury Secretary's first foreign trip. Citrone arrived in Argentina at the same time as Bessent and met with Milei immediately before Bessent did. During these meetings, Bessent emphasized U.S. support for Argentina's economic agenda, directly supporting the policies that benefit Citrone's investments.
• Argentine media reports hedge fund billionaire purchased bonds before Treasury bailout announcement — Argentine media outlets report that hedge fund billionaire Rob Citrone purchased additional Argentine bonds approximately two weeks before Treasury Secretary Bessent announced the $20 billion bailout package. Political Economy Editor Ariel Maciel of Argentine outlet Perfil stated the timing of Citrone's purchases raised "suspicions" that Citrone had access to "confidential information" about the impending bailout, allowing him to purchase assets at depressed prices before their value would be restored by U.S. Treasury intervention.

Supporting reports

• World Liberty Financial crypto token launches to public trading — Trump's World Liberty Financial crypto token began public trading on September 1 at $0.30 per share, declining 24.2% to $0.212 within the first 24 hours. Eric Trump announced the launch in Japan, describing it as setting "a new standard for financial freedom." The bulletin characterizes the venture as Trump's "biggest grift of all-time," with Trump positioned to profit several billion dollars regardless of investor outcomes.
• Trump launches World Liberty Financial token trading with regulatory favoritism and undisclosed conflicts of interest — On September 1, 2025, the World Liberty Financial (WLFI) cryptocurrency token began public trading, marking the culmination of a scheme by Trump and his sons to monetize the presidency. Trump personally owns 15.75 billion WLFI tokens and receives 75% of initial sales proceeds. The token was structured to evade SEC securities laws by restricting resale and claiming governance voting rights held exclusively by insiders. Trump's administration has dismantled crypto enforcement units, nominated a crypto-industry advocate (Paul Atkins) as SEC chair, and halted prosecution of crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun—who invested $75 million in WLFI—in exchange for a settlement. Trading platforms including Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken listed WLFI after Trump dropped prosecutions against them.
• Justice Department disbands crypto crimes investigation unit — The Trump administration disbanded the Justice Department unit responsible for investigating cryptocurrency crimes. According to an internal memo, the unit will henceforth focus exclusively on protecting crypto investors and companies from hackers and other threats, rather than investigating criminal activity by crypto actors. This elimination of federal crypto crime investigation capacity removes a key enforcement mechanism that could constrain illegal activity in the sector where Trump holds massive personal financial interests.
• Trump administration drops prosecutions against major crypto exchanges in exchange for WLFI listings — Trump dropped prosecutions against three major cryptocurrency exchanges—Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken—enabling them to list the World Liberty Financial token on its first day of trading. The article states: "Trump, however, ingratiated himself with these platforms by dropping prosecutions against companies like Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken. All three of these companies listed WLFI on its first day of trading." This quid pro quo arrangement—prosecutorial leniency in exchange for preferential treatment of the president's personal financial asset—directly links law enforcement discretion to the president's financial interests.
• Trump's cryptocurrency holdings valued at $5 billion, creating conflict of interest — Trump's interest in a cryptocurrency venture was valued at approximately $5 billion on paper, exceeding the combined value of all his other assets. Fox Business host Stuart Varney characterized the arrangement as a "clear conflict of interest," noting that crypto-friendly legislation from the president would directly benefit his personal and family financial interests. The deal would not be occurring absent Trump's presidential position.
• SEC drastically cuts crypto enforcement unit staffing — Following Paul Atkins's confirmation as SEC chairman in April 2025, the agency drastically reduced staffing in its crypto enforcement unit. This reduction in enforcement capacity directly correlates with the launch of World Liberty Financial and the removal of regulatory obstacles to Trump's cryptocurrency scheme. The staffing cuts eliminate the agency's ability to investigate or prosecute crypto-related securities violations.
• Eric Trump launches American Bitcoin cryptocurrency mining company — Eric Trump launched American Bitcoin, a cryptocurrency mining company, on September 3, 2025. According to reporting by Kyle Khan-Mullins and Dan Alexander of Forbes, Eric Trump is now worth at least $3.2 billion as a result of this venture and related Trump family cryptocurrency activities, including the Monday launch of WLFI cryptocurrency which netted the family approximately $5 billion on paper.
• Trump meets with tech executives including Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg at White House — Trump held a White House meeting with multiple technology executives including Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, ostensibly tied to Melania Trump's AI safety initiative. The meeting focused on securing electricity and water resources from the government for tech companies' AI infrastructure development. The gathering prompted significant backlash from MAGA influencers and conservative figures who view Gates and Zuckerberg as enemies of Trump and the MAGA movement.

Supporting reports

• IRS granted tax-exempt status to Trump Mount Rushmore memorial charity — In September 2025, the IRS granted tax-exempt status to the Donald Trump Mount Rushmore Memorial Legacy, designating it as a charity that can accept tax-free donations. The move allows the creation of a tax-advantaged vehicle for raising funds ostensibly for a memorial to Trump on Mount Rushmore, while Trump controls the IRS.