The article discusses how recent presidents are using their positions for personal financial gain through various business activities, contrasting this with Ronald Reagan's practice of placing his assets in a blind trust when he became president in 1981. According to the piece, 77% agree that presidents should not profit from their office. The author argues that such behavior undermines public service and poses risks to national security and economic fairness, advocating for legislation to ban outside income and enforce asset divestiture for presidents and vice presidents while they are in office.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-09,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In 1981, Ronald Reagan voluntarily placed his $4 million fortune into a blind trust when he became president, setting an example for future leaders to avoid conflicts of interest by freezing personal business activities. For decades, this standard was widely followed across both parties, ensuring that the president would serve public interests exclusively. However, today, many current and former presidents are engaging in various profit-making ventures while in office, such as overseas deals, cryptocurrency investments, stock trading, and corporate partnerships, turning the presidency into a multibillion-dollar opportunity for personal gain. 77% of Americans agree that presidents should not profit off their position.
This issue transcends party lines; it affects leaders regardless of political affiliation. Without clear regulations, any future president could use similar tactics to prioritize personal profits over public duties. This poses significant risks, such as foreign adversaries investing in a president’s company to influence U.S. military, intelligence, and trade policies, thereby undermining America's global leadership status. To address this, Common Cause is urging Congress to pass legislation prohibiting the president and vice president from receiving outside income while in office.
Written for “Presidential Profits Controversy” on 2026-10-09,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
When Ronald Reagan entered the White House in 1981, he voluntarily placed the liquid assets from his $4 million fortune into a blind trust.
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he → enter → trust
For decades, presidents across both parties followed a similar standard, freezing their personal business activities while in office so they could focus entirely on serving the American people.
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they → follow → people
It was a clear promise that the leader of our country would work for the public interest, not their own.
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leader → work → interest
Today, that promise is being broken.
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promise → break → ?
Through overseas business deals, crypto ventures, stock trading, corporate partnerships, and more, the presidency is being turned into a multibillion-dollar business opportunity.
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presidency → turn → opportunity
Without clear guardrails, any future occupants of the White House, Democrats and Republicans alike, will have a clear playbook for putting their personal profit ahead of their public duties.
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occupants → have → duties
A commander in chief focused on personal profit poses a serious risk to the nation.
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commander → focus → nation
Foreign adversaries will invest in the president’s company as an easy way to shape U.S. military, intelligence, and trade decisions, threatening America’s position as a global leader.
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adversaries → invest → leader
Presidential profiteering also distorts our economy and undermines basic fairness.
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profiteering → distort → fairness
Small businesses cannot compete on a level playing field alongside companies linked to the president.
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businesses → compete → president
This isn’t to say that a successful business leader shouldn’t be allowed to run for office.
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leader → say → office
Wealth should not disqualify someone from serving their country.
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Wealth → disqualify → country
But leaders should not profit while occupying a role meant solely for public service.
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leaders → profit → service
It threatens the free market when one person, wielding immense power and influence, can tilt the playing field toward their own financial interests.
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person → threaten → interests
Think of it this way: If you own a small business and hire someone full-time, only to find out they’re stealing from the till and running a side business while on the clock, you would be outraged.
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you → think → clock
That’s exactly what’s happening here.
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what → ’ → ?
The American people hired the president to lead the country, and that’s where his full focus belongs.
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focus → hire → country
As an independent, nonpartisan watchdog holding power accountable across the aisle since 1970, Common Cause is urging Congress to pass a law barring the president and vice president from receiving outside income while in office, full stop.
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Cause → hold → office
Presidents would make their official salary, and that’s it.
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that → make → salary
Similar ethics safeguards already apply to other senior federal officials — extending the safeguard to the most powerful office in the land is simple commonsense.
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extending → apply → land
This ban must be paired with a requirement to divest from any income-generating assets to shield leaders from conflicts of interest.
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ban → pair → interest
To protect the free market, companies and individuals should also be barred from paying the president while in office.
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companies → protect → office
And clear, enforceable penalties should be established for federal and state authorities to uphold.
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authorities → establish → ?
The ban would end once the president leaves office.
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president → end → office
After that, they would be free to make millions again, in addition to their official pension.
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they → make → pension
A profiteering ban is already popular — 77% of Americans believe a sitting president should not be allowed to profit from personal business ventures while in office, including majorities across all parties.
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president → believe → parties
Now it’s on Congress to exercise the checks and balances granted by the Constitution to enforce fair rules.
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it → ’ → rules
As voters look to the future of this election, we must ask every candidate running for office a simple question: Will you vote for clear rules that ensure the president is focused only on serving the American people?
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president → look → people
She previously served as Director for Anti-Corruption on the National Security Council staff and advised senior officials at USAID, the State Department, and DoD.
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She → serve → USAID
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