Alyssa Farah Griffin, co-host of "The View" and former White House communications director under President Donald Trump, expressed genuine amazement on Tuesday over what she described as his profiteering presidency. Speaking on CNN's "AC360" with host Anderson Cooper, Griffin remarked, "Nothing sticks to Trump. I mean, it's Teflon Don."
Griffin Compares Trump's Profiteering to Hunter Biden Controversies
Griffin highlighted the hypocrisy within the Republican Party, noting the outrage directed at Hunter Biden during Joe Biden's presidency. "I just think of the things that we Republicans were outraged with, with Hunter Biden, when Biden was in office," she said. "'He's profiteering off of these, you know, his artistry and these pictures he was drawing.' This is next level. It's really next level."
Cooper had earlier listed various merchandise Trump is selling, including gold coins featuring the president's face priced up to $11,999.99. The CNN host struggled to suppress laughter while enumerating the items, apologizing as he composed himself.
GOP's Silence on Trump's Wealth
Hunter Biden was famously accused by Republicans of profiteering from his father's presidency through his role at a Ukrainian energy company and by earning millions from his artwork. However, the GOP has had far less to say about Trump's skyrocketing wealth. Griffin warned that while Trump may be immune to criticism, his actions could hurt Republicans in the midterm elections. "But, while it doesn't really stick with Donald Trump, it does potentially stick with Republicans down-ballot, heading into the midterms when the gas prices are high, when the cost of everything seems through the roof, having to defend these sorts of things," she said.
Trump's Financial Ventures and Controversies
Trump has openly bragged about the fortune he has raised since returning to office. He is selling his own cryptocurrency and infamously accepted a $400 million luxury jet from Qatar before granting the oil-rich autocracy a defense guarantee from the U.S. government. Forbes reported in March that Trump is worth $6.5 billion. The president, who launched an unpopular war on Iran in February, has since become fixated on constructing a new $400 million White House ballroom, which could cost up to $1 billion in security upgrades.
Cooper tried hard to stifle laughter while highlighting a gold-plated phone Trump is now selling. Griffin argued that the president's decisions are not a laughing matter, at least for Republicans eager to survive the upcoming midterm elections. She said "a billion-dollar ballroom" is getting "increasingly harder" for Republicans to justify.
