Trump's profits irk Americans as Dems test anti-corruption message
A majority of Americans believe President Trump has profited inappropriately from a cryptocurrency empire while in office and disapprove of his family's global business activity, according to recent polls.
Why it matters: Democrats are leaning into those concerns in their own midterm messaging — and laying the groundwork to audit Trump's historically lucrative presidency should they emerge victorious.
While Trump has argued "nobody cared" whether he and his family pursued business deals abroad during his first term, Americans seem to be signaling discomfort with the Trump family's business success.
The White House did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
By the numbers: Most Americans (63%) say Trump and his family have inappropriately profited from cryptocurrency — from which he brought in upward of $1 billion last year — since his return to Washington, a four-day Reuters-Ipsos poll out Wednesday found.
Plus, nearly seven in 10 Americans believe Trump's private business interests are influencing his presidential decisions, including nearly half of Republicans (48%).
Zoom out: A recent The Economist-YouGov poll of 1,611 U.S. citizens similarly found broad disapproval of Trump and his family doing business with foreign countries, with 65% disapproving.
Only 8% strongly approved.
Republicans were divided, with 47% approving and 32% disapproving.
Majorities also disapproved of presidents accepting valuable gifts from foreign governments while in office (61%) and Trump's personal investment in the cryptocurrency industry (64%).
Between the lines: Democrats seem keen on harnessing that heightened concern.
Sen.
Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), who is up for reelection, has framed much of his campaign around fighting corruption, panning the Trump administration as "the most corrupt ... of all time." In April, House Democrats launched an "Anti-Corruption and Democracy Reform Task Force" with a mix of progressive and centrist members.
And in May, Democratic Reps.
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