Reagan had it right, and 77% agree: Don’t let presidents profit off the office

Published October 9, 2026 11:00am ET



When Ronald Reagan entered the White House in 1981, he voluntarily placed the liquid assets from his $4 million fortune into a blind 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. It was a clear promise that the leader of our country would work for the public interest, not their own.

Today, that promise is being broken. 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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