Kathrine Frich
More than 60 percent of this new wealth flows directly from the Persian Gulf.
When powerful people step into public office, they usually leave their private businesses behind.
Mixing global diplomacy with personal profit creates an uncomfortable blur.
Yet some leaders prefer to keep their cash registers ringing while managing the country, turning international fame into massive private wealth.
Massive profit jump
Donald Trump saw his international real estate business surge during the first year of his second term. His brand generated $59.5 million in overseas revenue in 2025.
Those figures mark a massive 71 percent increase from the previous year. According to a CNBC analysis, the profits sit almost ten times higher than in 2023.
The Trump Organization dropped its previous pledge to avoid new foreign deals. Today, the company allows major agreements with private developers, taking huge fees simply for renting out the famous name.
Money from the Gulf
More than 60 percent of this new wealth flows directly from the Persian Gulf. Local developers carry all construction costs while paying millions just to put the brand on luxury towers.
Two major players stand out in the financial filings. Saudi Arabia’s Dar Al Arkan group and Emirati developer Damac handed over tens of millions for regional branding rights.
The Damac relationship specifically worries ethics experts. The company paid $11.3 million for projects in Abu Dhabi, even though no active building sites exist there yet.
Blurring the lines
Meanwhile, Damac founder Hussain Sajwani announced a $20 billion plan to build data centers across the United States. Just six months later, the president signed an order to speed up federal approvals. The new rules perfectly matched those exact facilities.
Similar overlaps appear in Qatar and Oman. Trump collected millions for luxury projects tied to state-backed developers right as his administration negotiated major diplomatic deals with those nations.
Another $5 million came from a golf resort near Hanoi. This deal moved forward just as Vietnamese officials negotiated with Washington to avoid a heavy trade tariff.
Denying any influence
Journalists at CNBC found no direct evidence that these payments changed official government policies. Still, watchdog groups argue that foreign leaders now have a direct pipeline to the president’s bank account.
The Trump Organization firmly denied any wrongdoing. Company representatives claim the business operates “completely separate from the presidency” with help from external ethics advisors.
The White House echoed that defense. Officials stated that the “only special interest” driving the administration remains “the interest of the American people.”
Sources: CNBC, News.ro
