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A majority of Americans believe President Donald Trump is using the presidency for personal gain, according to a new Economist/YouGov poll, as the president continues to post deeply negative approval ratings during his second term.The survey found that 60% of Americans think Trump is using his office for personal benefit, including 69% of independents, 94% of Democrats and 16% of Republicans. The findings come amid heightened scrutiny of Trump's financial interests, including more than $1.4 billion in cryptocurrency-related income disclosed this year and his acceptance of a luxury jet from Qatar.Most Americans say Trump is using presidency for personal gainThe poll, released July 7, found that six in 10 Americans believe Trump is using the presidency for personal gain.Views on the issue varied sharply by party affiliation. Nearly all Democrats surveyed, 94%, said Trump is using the office for personal benefit, compared with 69% of independents and 16% of Republicans.The survey also found Trump with a net approval rating of -25, among the lowest recorded during either of his terms in office.According to YouGov, the poll was conducted July 3-6 among 1,603 U.S. adults and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points.In a statement to USA TODAY, White House spokesman Davis Ingle rejected suggestions that Trump's business interests influence his decisions as president."President Trump only acts in the best interests of the American public – which is why they overwhelmingly re-elected him to this office, despite years of lies and false accusations against him and his businesses," Ingle said. "President Trump's assets are in a trust managed by his children."Crypto gains and Qatar jet draw scrutinyThe poll comes days after Trump's latest financial disclosure revealed that he earned more than $1.4 billion from cryptocurrency-related ventures in 2025.According to Reuters, those gains included nearly $800 million from World Liberty Financial, a company co-founded by Trump's sons, and roughly $635 million from sales of his $TRUMP meme coin.Trump has defended those earnings, arguing that ordinary Americans are also benefiting from the investments.I've had a good career, a great career," Trump told reporters on July 1. "I don't know if I've had a better career in politics or business, but I had a great career in business and, you know, you saw the cash."Earlier this year, Trump also accepted a luxury Boeing 747 from Qatar that is now being used as Air Force One. Trump has said the aircraft will be transferred to his presidential library after he leaves office."President Trump only acts in the best interests of the American public – which is why they overwhelmingly re-elected him to this office, despite years of lies and false accusations against him and his businesses," Ingle said. "President Trump’s assets are in a trust managed by his children."Crypto and jetsTuesday’s poll comes only days after a routine financial disclosure filed by Trump showed that the president made more than $1.4 billion from cryptocurrency in 2025. Those gains include nearly $800 million from World Liberty Financial, a company his sons co-founded, according to Reuters, and $635 million from the sale of his $TRUMP meme coins. Trump defended his gains since returning to the White House, saying that ordinary Americans, too, are sharing in the wealth."I've had a good career, a great career," Trump told reporters July 1. "I don't know if I've had a better career in politics or business, but I had a great career in business and, you know, you saw the cash."Earlier this year, Trump also accepted a luxury Boeing 747 jet from Qatar, which is now in use as Air Force One, the president’s plane. According to Trump, the unprecedented $400 million gift is set to be transferred to Trump’s presidential library once his second term in office ends.What is Trump’s approval average?Trump's approval rating has been net negative for more than a year and has been fluctuating but trending more negative over the past several months. Here is Trump's average approval rating, according to aggregators:RealClearPolitics Poll Average, as of July 8: 40.7% approve, 56.6% disapproveNew York Times, as of July 8: 39% approve, 58% disapproveSilver Bulletin, as of July 8: 39.3% approve, 56.8% disapproveUSA TODAY's Kinsey Crowley contributed to this report.Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
