Trump tried to limit financial conflicts in 2016. This time could be different.
The president-elect said in 2017 he would go beyond the law to avoid conflicts. Now he owns stock worth billions of dollars and says he won’t sell.

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Donald Trump speaks after being declared the winner during an election night watch party at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, in the early hours of Nov. 6. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

By Michael Kranish and Jonathan O'Connell
November 19, 2024 at 6:00 a.m. EST

Days before Donald Trump assumed the presidency in 2017, he told reporters that he was handing over “complete and total control” of his real estate company to his two eldest sons. He also said he turned down a $2 billion real estate deal in Dubai, and, after having sold off all his stock, vowed to follow a series of self-imposed ethical guidelines.

Eight years later, as Trump prepares to return to the White House, he has not yet made any similar moves to avoid financially benefiting from being president.

Trump has made no promises to divest from any of his financial interests, which have now soared to include a cryptocurrency business and a stake valued at $3.76 billion in a social media company, in addition to his family firm’s growing number of foreign deals. Indeed, three days after winning the election, he shook up Wall Street by denying on his Truth Social site that he was selling his shares in the social media firm’s parent company.

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Lisa Rein contributed to this report.

By Michael Kranish
Michael Kranish is a national political investigative reporter. He co-authored The Post’s biography "Trump Revealed," as well as biographies of John F. Kerry and Mitt Romney. His latest book is "The World's Fastest Man: The Extraordinary Life of Cyclist Major Taylor." He previously was the deputy chief of the Boston Globe's Washington bureau.follow on X @PostKranish

By Jonathan O'Connell
Jonathan O'Connell is a reporter focused on investigations. He has covered economic development, commercial real estate and President Donald Trump's business. He joined The Post in 2010.follow on X @jocwapo