Today, Explained: All the President’s Side Hustles

Hosted by Sean Rameswaram and Eli Stokels | Released May 15, 2025

Introduction

In the episode titled "All the President’s Side Hustles," hosts Sean Rameswaram and Eli Stokels delve into the multifaceted activities of President Donald Trump and his family beyond the Oval Office. The discussion spans Trump's diplomatic missions in the Middle East, his family's extensive business dealings in the region, and the burgeoning involvement of the Trump brand in the cryptocurrency landscape. The episode critically examines the ethical implications and potential conflicts of interest arising from these endeavors.

Trump’s Middle East Diplomacy and Family Business Ventures

Sean Rameswaram introduces Trump's activities in the Middle East:

[00:00] "Donald Trump's in the Middle East doing the kinds of things you might expect a US President to do. While in the Middle East, he's been shaking hands with leaders, posing for photos."

The hosts highlight Trump's diplomatic engagements, including meetings with regional leaders and significant announcements, such as the cessation of sanctions against Syria:

[00:21] Eli Stokels: "I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness."

Eli Stokels further elaborates on Trump's meeting with Syria's new president, Ahmed Al Sharra, a former al-Qaeda leader previously on the US Terror list:

[00:28] "And on Wednesday, Trump met with Syria's new president, Ahmed Al Sharra, a former al Qaeda leader who used to be on the US Terror list, I might."

Family Business in the Middle East

Sean Ramiswram questions the involvement of Trump's sons in Middle Eastern business deals prior to the President's arrival:

[02:18] "Sean Ramiswram: Okay, so help me set the stage for this trip to the Middle East this week, because I read that even before President Trump showed up, his large adult sons were crisscrossing the region. What exactly were they doing?"

Eli Stokels responds by detailing the Trump Corporation's ventures, including Trump International Hotel projects in Dubai and luxury villa projects in Qatar:

[02:46] "They are making a bunch of deals. You’re saying some of those deals are pretty close to, if not involving foreign governments. And then the President rolls in, makes a bunch more deals and also is dealing with those same actors in the process."

Ethical Concerns and Conflicts of Interest

The discussion shifts to the ethical ramifications of Trump maintaining active business interests while serving as President. Eli Stokels points out the lack of a blind trust and the intertwining of business and political dealings:

[03:38] "He did not put any of these things in a blind trust or put up a firewall between his business interests and his work in government in his first term or in his second."

The conversation highlights a controversial gift from Qatar—a $400 million Boeing 747 jet intended to serve as Trump's personal Air Force One:

[05:57] Eli Stokels: "Qatar has decided that one way to curry favor with this president is to float. Just giving the US government giving President Trump a 747 jet, like tricked out, double decker, $400 million Boeing jet..."

A political commentator adds criticism regarding the acceptance of gifts from foreign entities:

[07:09] "Taking sacks of goodies from people who support Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, Al Jazeera, all the rest of the. That's not America First..."

Transactional Foreign Policy

Eli Stokels describes Trump's foreign policy as highly transactional, focusing on financial deals over ideological or democratic values:

[08:32] "He thinks about the world in a very mercantilist way. And so the Saudis, the Qataris, the Emiratis, they are willing to play that game to do these deals..."

The hosts discuss the substantial investments pledged by Saudi Arabia and Qatar, including commitments to defense, AI data centers, energy infrastructure, and US drones:

[08:35] "It also includes some investment in the United States, including 20 billion in AI data centers and energy infrastructure."

Involvement in LIV Golf and Private-Public Partnerships

The episode touches upon Trump's hosting of a Saudi-backed LIV Golf tournament in Florida, which serves as both a sporting event and a vehicle for furthering business ties with Saudi investors:

[10:14] "The LIV golf. We haven't even talked about LIV Golf, but that's the Saudi-backed golf league. That's a real competitor to the PGA Tour."

Trump’s Foray into Cryptocurrency

Shifting focus, the hosts explore how the Trump family has ventured into the cryptocurrency market, creating significant wealth through various crypto-related projects.

Sean Rameswram introduces the topic:

[15:22] "Explain is back with Will Got Sagan, who writes about crypto for the Atlantic. His latest piece is all about how."

Trump Coin and Crypto Ventures

Eli Stokels discusses the introduction of "Trump Coin," a meme cryptocurrency that saw an explosive surge in value shortly after its launch:

[17:09] "Well, initially, when Trump coin was introduced, sort of around the time of the inauguration, it accounted almost, I think Axios estimated that it was 89% of his total net worth within that first weekend."

The hosts critique the lack of regulatory oversight under Trump's administration, contrasting it with the stringent regulations previously enforced by Gary Gensler during the Biden presidency:

[24:10] "Well, I think to understand that question, you have to sort of go back and look how crypto has been regulated over the past, sort of. Throughout the Biden presidency..."

Ethical Implications of Crypto Involvement

The conversation emphasizes the potential for conflicts of interest and the circumvention of campaign finance laws through anonymous crypto transactions:

[23:14] "That has directly transmuted the Trump brand into money and it has muddied a lot of those pathways."

A political commentator warns of the risks associated with Trump leveraging crypto for personal enrichment:

[24:38] "There are still regulations that the rules really haven't changed that much. It's just how they're enforced. And they're being enforced a lot less harshly than they were during the Biden administration."

Conclusion

The episode "All the President’s Side Hustles" paints a comprehensive picture of how President Donald Trump and his family are deeply entrenched in international business dealings and the cryptocurrency market. The hosts raise significant ethical questions about the blending of business interests with presidential duties, highlighting potential conflicts of interest and the lack of regulatory safeguards that could lead to corruption and undue foreign influence.

Notable Quotes

• Eli Stokels [00:28]: "Trump met with Syria's new president, Ahmed Al Sharra, a former al Qaeda leader who used to be on the US Terror list."

• Eli Stokels [05:57]: "Qatar has decided that one way to curry favor with this president is to float... a $400 million Boeing jet."

• Unknown Political Commentator [07:09]: "Taking sacks of goodies from people who support Hamas... That's not America First."

• Eli Stokels [08:32]: "He thinks about the world in a very mercantilist way."

• Unknown Political Commentator [24:48]: "I mean, he had a background teaching a crypto class at MIT... and now it's like a total free for all."

This episode serves as a critical examination of the intertwining between political power and personal business interests, particularly in regions and industries where oversight appears minimal. It underscores the importance of vigilance and transparency in holding public officials accountable for potential conflicts of interest.