Eric Schmitt

The first term, it's almost quaint in comparison. The scale of the conflicts and the amount of money in play is so much greater, and the complexity of the conflicts are greater. It's no longer an appearance of a conflict of interest. It is clearly a conflict of interest.

The first term, it's almost quaint in comparison. The scale of the conflicts and the amount of money in play is so much greater, and the complexity of the conflicts are greater. It's no longer an appearance of a conflict of interest. It is clearly a conflict of interest.

Yeah, I mean, the Trump family in the second term is effectively unleashed. They're no longer hesitant about pursuing profits without restraint. You know, and by far the biggest and most problematic conflict that my colleagues, David, Yaffe, Bellany, Ben Protest, and I have found as we've looked at this, it relates to the president's interest in cryptocurrency.

Yeah, I mean, the Trump family in the second term is effectively unleashed. They're no longer hesitant about pursuing profits without restraint. You know, and by far the biggest and most problematic conflict that my colleagues, David, Yaffe, Bellany, Ben Protest, and I have found as we've looked at this, it relates to the president's interest in cryptocurrency.

It's a pretty radical turnaround. I mean, this is the same guy who in 2019 was tweeting that he's not a fan of cryptocurrency because it's involved in drug trade and other illegal activity. Right. And then by 2024, he's at a... cryptocurrency conference and calling how he's going to make the United States the crypto capital of the world and is embracing crypto.

It's a pretty radical turnaround. I mean, this is the same guy who in 2019 was tweeting that he's not a fan of cryptocurrency because it's involved in drug trade and other illegal activity. Right. And then by 2024, he's at a... cryptocurrency conference and calling how he's going to make the United States the crypto capital of the world and is embracing crypto.

And a few things happened in between that changed his tune. And that includes millions of dollars in campaign contributions coming in from the cryptocurrency industry, which was quite frustrated with the Biden administration and its very intense regulatory posture relative to crypto.

And a few things happened in between that changed his tune. And that includes millions of dollars in campaign contributions coming in from the cryptocurrency industry, which was quite frustrated with the Biden administration and its very intense regulatory posture relative to crypto.

And also just a sense that this crypto community, both of crypto enthusiasts who are buyers of crypto and the corporate world that is backing it, that that was a constituency that he could pick up because it represents a slice of America, both donors and voters, that felt disaffected and might as well go grab them and bring them onto your side. And he did that quite effectively. Mm-hmm.

And also just a sense that this crypto community, both of crypto enthusiasts who are buyers of crypto and the corporate world that is backing it, that that was a constituency that he could pick up because it represents a slice of America, both donors and voters, that felt disaffected and might as well go grab them and bring them onto your side. And he did that quite effectively. Mm-hmm.

And another thing that was happening in the background was Don Jr., his oldest son, and Eric, who are the key players in the family business operations, went to the dad Trump and said, you know what, this is a business that we actually want to embrace for political reasons and also for potentially profit making reasons. So they came up with two ideas.

And another thing that was happening in the background was Don Jr., his oldest son, and Eric, who are the key players in the family business operations, went to the dad Trump and said, you know what, this is a business that we actually want to embrace for political reasons and also for potentially profit making reasons. So they came up with two ideas.

One was to launch something called the meme coin, which is like a it's a collectible. And the second was to launch a whole new business that they call World Liberty Financial, which is effectively a cryptocurrency bank. And those were the two business venture ideas they came up with, and they began to pursue even before the election.

One was to launch something called the meme coin, which is like a it's a collectible. And the second was to launch a whole new business that they call World Liberty Financial, which is effectively a cryptocurrency bank. And those were the two business venture ideas they came up with, and they began to pursue even before the election.

A meme coin is effectively, it's sort of like a beanie baby or a baseball card. It's something that is limited in numbers and that people want as a collectible. And they can become quite valuable really quickly. They can go up in value because there's a certain amount of them, they're a commodity, and if people want them and they're willing to pay a lot, then they'll suddenly surge in value.

A meme coin is effectively, it's sort of like a beanie baby or a baseball card. It's something that is limited in numbers and that people want as a collectible. And they can become quite valuable really quickly. They can go up in value because there's a certain amount of them, they're a commodity, and if people want them and they're willing to pay a lot, then they'll suddenly surge in value.

But the people who issue these meme coins, they say that, well, they're not an investment vehicle, they're a collectible, so you're welcome to buy them if you'd like. And so it's 9.44 p.m. on January 17th. And hundreds of people are gathering for a crypto ball in advance of Trump's inauguration.

But the people who issue these meme coins, they say that, well, they're not an investment vehicle, they're a collectible, so you're welcome to buy them if you'd like. And so it's 9.44 p.m. on January 17th. And hundreds of people are gathering for a crypto ball in advance of Trump's inauguration.

And on that evening, Trump posts on True Social that my new official meme coin is here and it's time to celebrate and everyone should go buy it. And it has a picture of him on this card that you get if you buy the meme coin with his fist in the air. And it says, fight, fight, fight.

And on that evening, Trump posts on True Social that my new official meme coin is here and it's time to celebrate and everyone should go buy it. And it has a picture of him on this card that you get if you buy the meme coin with his fist in the air. And it says, fight, fight, fight.