Use This to Arrest Them': Trump's Ploy for Sympathy Goes Off the Rails After He Lets an Eye-Popping Thought Slip, Blowing the Whole Interview Wide Open

President Donald Trump drew renewed scrutiny after remarks during a CNBC interview suggested he feels sympathy for his children because their relationship to him subjects them to tougher questions about insider knowledge. In a July 2 Oval Office sit-down on “Squawkbox” with Joe Kernen, Trump defended his family’s financial dealings as new disclosures showed a sharp jump in his personal wealth after returning to office. He argued that, given the presidency’s reach, almost any purchase or investment by his children could invite concerns, saying that even buying items tied to energy production could imply access to information. The latest filing reported $2.2 billion in income in 2025, versus $622 million in 2024, with digital assets accounting for most of the increase. It cited about $1.4 billion from cryptocurrency-related holdings and listed more than 21,000 individual trades. Trump said Eric Trump handles the investments.