“Crony capitalism” is a term that has been thrown around increasingly in recent months as President Donald Trump’s administration has taken office. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as an economic system that allows individuals or businesses with political connections to have a favored influence that can suppress open competition in a free market. In theory, that’s a warning. In practice, it’s a business model and the Trump family is its most enthusiastic case study. Trump’s second term has turned the White House into a marketplace for personal and political gain, exemplifying the dangers of crony capitalism. Because of this, he has irrevocably damaged the integrity of the office of the President of the United States.
In July 2025, a New York Times investigation exposed that “[h]is lower Manhattan office building generated too little cash to cover its mortgage” and his golf courses regularly failed to cover costs due to lack of players. Trump has also faced tremendous legal fees because of his criminal trials and hundreds of millions of dollars in civil lawsuit penalties. Faced with mounting financial pressure, the Trump family has consistently rolled out new business ventures since clinching the Republican nomination in March 2024 — launching numerous apparel products, including watches and shoes, as well as multiple cryptocurrencies, one of which has increased the family’s wealth by $5 billion. Trump has turned the presidency into a personal brand, becoming less of a commander-in-chief and more of a content creator.
The most recent venture is from Kai Trump, the president’s granddaughter. She recently launched merchandise with promotional photos taken at the White House. She then posed next to Trump as he answered questions for reporters on Friday, Sept. 26, while wearing one of the pullovers — and again that weekend at the Ryder Cup.
Kai Trump’s logo has sparked controversy as it resembles a logo used by American Eagle x Tru Kolors collaboration. Tru Kolors is the clothing brand of the Kansas City Chiefs’ starting tight end Travis Kelce launched in 2019. His logo has remained consistent throughout the brand’s existence. While neither brand has taken any legal action, many people online have cited copyright laws supporting Kelce and American Eagle.
This is not the first time that Trump has used the White House to promote his personal interests. In March 2025, he transformed the South Lawn into Elon Musk’s Tesla showroom in a private event. This moment came conveniently for the company, as Tesla’s stock was going on seven consecutive weeks of losses. It was their biggest plunge since debuting on the Nasdaq in 2010. The event was also livestreamed on the social media site X, which Musk purchased in April 2022. More recently, Trump has discussed the possibilities of hosting Ultimate Fighting Championship fights in 2026 to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.
When the White House becomes a backdrop for brand promotion (familial or otherwise), it’s not just unethical; it chips away at the foundation of presidential integrity. The Constitution designates the office of the president to serve the public interest, not private gain. When Trump leverages the prestige of the White House to elevate specific products, he blurs the lines between governance and self-enrichment. This behavior erodes public trust and signals a dangerous shift where those in power treat the presidency as a personal billboard. Frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if they went so far as to install billboards on the White House roof.
The president should not use his position of power for personal benefit, but Trump has shown that he does not care for the rules or morals when it comes to holding office. He blatantly ignored ethical standards when he cast aside vetting procedures for his Cabinet picks and laughed at the idea of him and his children having conflicts of interest. These conflicts have gotten so out of hand that watchdogs maintain running lists to keep track.
However, since all three branches of government are controlled by Republicans, the checks on Trump and his support for crony capitalism are few and far between. It’s hard to believe this is the same country that condemned former President Jimmy Carter for having a peanut farm before his term began in 1977. Somewhere along the way, the ethical bar for presidential conduct collapsed, and now our government seems to be overrun by shady businessmen disguised as politicians.
If we accept this erosion of ethical boundaries at the highest level, what does that say about our own standards for leadership? As students, voters and future leaders, we must demand transparency from our government and ourselves.
Catherine Payleitner, FCRH ’28, is a political science and journalism major from Chicago, Illinois.
