Category: Shady Deals

Trump bought Boeing stock on same day Navy gave company $880M contract. Here’s proof | Snopes.com

Trump purchased between $250,000 and $500,000 in Boeing stock on June 18, 2026, according to his financial disclosure filed with the Office of Government Ethics. On the identical date, the Department of Defense announced an $880 million contract awarding Boeing a firm-fixed-price agreement for P-8A Poseidon aircraft training systems and sustainment services for the U.S. Navy.

Trump’s financial disclosures demonstrate he has traded millions of dollars in securities throughout his second term, including substantial investments in Boeing and other corporations that maintain major contractual relationships with the federal government. Unlike previous presidents, Trump maintains direct equity stakes in defense contractors receiving government contracts, creating documented conflicts of interest between his personal financial interests and his executive authority over defense spending.

The White House claims Trump’s portfolio is independently managed by third-party financial institutions through discretionary accounts with automatic index replication, asserting Trump exercises no control over investment timing or selection. This defense contradicts the structural reality that Trump personally benefits from stock appreciation resulting from government contracts awarded during his administration, regardless of the mechanical process executing the trades.

Securities law prohibits insider trading under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but prosecution requires proving intent. Trump’s pattern of acquiring substantial positions in defense contractors immediately preceding or concurrent with major government awards violates ethical standards governing federal officials, even if legal prosecution faces evidentiary barriers regarding knowledge and intent. Trump similarly purchased Intel corporate debt while simultaneously directing an $11 billion government stake in the company, demonstrating systematic self-enrichment through executive power.

Historical Boeing stock data shows the company’s share price declined in the days following June 18, rendering Trump’s timing potentially disadvantageous from a pure profit motive, though this pattern is consistent with Trump acquiring positions before government announcements that boost defense contractor valuations over longer time horizons rather than daily trading cycles.



(Source: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-boeing-navy-contract/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwdGRjcAUBV9VwZG9mBWZkaWQWUNcR-T08h1U5UsiJAsvZ0EZRLcI8KmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR4qu28QnJhWpigVHOfbfUvq87liZM7uSYU7TS5vmeJFwEB7Am_hZHsTYGs2cQ_aem_JkpE5BepPA1k5aXzNjYiVg#Echobox=1787927122)

Trump Admin Sends Saudi Nuclear Deal With Uranium Enrichment to Congress

The Trump administration submitted a nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia to Congress on Monday, which would permit uranium enrichment on Saudi territory and take effect automatically in 90 days unless both chambers pass disapproval resolutions. Energy Secretary Chris Wright confirmed the deal includes a pathway for Saudi enrichment of uranium fuel for civilian reactors, though he stated such arrangements remain “many years down the road.” The agreement’s full text was sent to Congress in classified form, described by sources as “highly unusual,” with experts noting that classifying an entire civil nuclear cooperation agreement would be “unprecedented.”

The White House conditioned the agreement’s advancement on Saudi Arabia joining Trump’s Abraham Accords initiative, which normalizes diplomatic relations with Israel, despite the signed agreement containing no such mandate. An administration official stated Trump’s “position has not changed” and that the agreement will proceed only if Riyadh joins the accords. However, the White House offered no explanation for how it would prevent the deal from automatically taking effect after 90 days if Saudi Arabia does not comply, leaving the mechanism for enforcing this condition unclear.

The agreement permits Saudi enrichment without requiring adoption of the Additional Protocol, the standard international safeguard that grants the UN nuclear watchdog broad authority to inspect suspected weapons sites. Wright argued that bilaterally negotiated safeguards developed “in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency” would be sufficient to prevent weapons development. IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi stated the agency’s Board of Governors must review and approve the safeguards agreement and pledged he would “never put forward an agreement that would not guarantee nonproliferation.”

The diplomatic condition linking the deal to the Abraham Accords surprised Trump’s own nuclear negotiators, according to sources briefed on the matter. Trump formally approved the 30-year nuclear agreement in July, structuring it to secure dominant market access for American companies while excluding foreign competitors from Saudi Arabia’s nuclear infrastructure. Scott Roecker of the Nuclear Threat Initiative suggested the administration could refuse to finalize the agreement after Congress completes its review, potentially using the accords condition as leverage to pressure Saudi Arabia toward Israeli normalization.

The administration’s approach mirrors precedent set during George W. Bush’s presidency, when his administration withdrew a nuclear agreement with Russia from congressional consideration in 2008 following Moscow’s invasion of Georgia. Trump issued his certification for the Saudi agreement on July 16, according to the Federal Register, but the intertwining of the nuclear deal with unrelated diplomatic objectives has left lawmakers uncertain how to evaluate the agreement’s nuclear merits independently.



(Source: https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/26/politics/trump-saudi-arabia-nuclear-deal?Date=20260826&Profile=CNN&utm_content=1787777104&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwdGRjcAT8SR5wZG9mBWZkaWQWUNPW_zGo1xpalQI2bG2ghAonaG4g3GV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR55T2Hst1IZkGT4sMiro6WFCClyed7RwMEwsG5N7LjK4z4diwjPhGSzT9vEnQ_aem_RBwOCizapX4ifgZJ62oCcA)agreement’s nuclear merits independently.

Trump Commerce Grants UAE AI Chip Access After Sheikh’s Investment

The Trump administration’s Commerce Department granted the United Arab Emirates license-free access to critical U.S. artificial intelligence technology, including advanced semiconductor chips. The decision follows a $500 million investment by Abu Dhabi royal Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan in World Liberty Financial, a Trump family cryptocurrency venture, which Eric Trump finalized four days before the president’s inauguration.

Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren condemned the arrangement as a “corrupt deal” and demanded testimony from Commerce Department officials, citing direct national security threats. Warren argued that the preferential export control change violates U.S. security protocols and creates vulnerability to foreign adversaries, particularly China, given G42’s documented past collaborations with sanctioned technology firm Huawei.

The financial arrangement between the Trump family and the UAE official represents a direct conflict of interest, with Trump personally benefiting from cryptocurrency holdings tied to Tahnoon’s substantial investments. This deal follows the Trump family’s sale of a 49% stake in World Liberty Financial for $500 million to representatives of the same Sheikh, demonstrating a pattern of financial entanglement between Trump’s personal wealth and U.S. technology policy decisions.

The Commerce Department’s action undermines established national security safeguards by providing a foreign nation unrestricted access to sensitive semiconductor technology without standard licensing requirements. This preferential treatment contradicts standard U.S. export control frameworks designed to prevent advanced chip technology from reaching potential adversaries.

The deal exemplifies how Trump uses presidential authority to enrich himself and his family while simultaneously compromising national security. The administration’s decision to grant technological privileges to a foreign investor who directly funded Trump family business interests demonstrates the weaponization of government power for personal financial gain.



(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/news/trump-uae-investor-license-free-crypto-ai-chips-b3013179.html)

‘Wow!’ Trump Wakes Up Basking In Glow of New Trump Airport

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation in March 2026 requiring Palm Beach County to rename its airport to President Donald J. Trump International Airport, triggering widespread backlash over the use of public funds for rebranding costs including new signage, uniforms, software updates, and airport identifier code changes. The Trump Organization has filed federal trademark applications claiming exclusive rights to the airport name and related merchandise, raising concerns about potential financial kickbacks to the Trump family through approved vendor requirements for branded goods.

Local residents and pilots filed lawsuits challenging the renaming as illegal, citing safety risks from the airport identifier code change and violations of local home rule authority. The legal action reflects substantial opposition to the rebranding initiative within the Palm Beach community and aviation sector, though the airport officially became the President Donald J. Trump International Airport in July 2026.

Trump responded to the renaming with social media posts on Saturday morning celebrating the airport change, describing Palm Beach as “a special place” and sharing photographs of the airport’s signage. The posts came hours after Trump had spent Friday night issuing threatening warnings about Iranian assassination plots, including claims he had ordered military strikes against Iran, demonstrating a sharp tonal shift in his public messaging.

Critics have characterized the renaming as a corruption scheme designed to benefit the Trump family financially while burdening taxpayers with millions in rebranding expenses. Legal experts and local opponents argue the arrangement creates pathways for Trump Organization profits through merchandise licensing and vendor approvals tied to the airport’s new branding identity.



(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/wow-trump-wakes-up-basking-in-glow-of-new-honor-after-going-to-bed-raging-about-assassination-plans/)

Trump Blames Vandalism for Reflecting Pool Algae

President Trump blamed “vandalism” and ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl for damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Friday, claiming unknown actors used chemicals to harm the newly installed surface after the $13.1 million renovation project deteriorated within days of completion. Trump alleged Karl was “sticking his hand into the Pool” and “trying to rip the rubber off of the surface,” while asserting the algae bloom affecting the pool—which was supposed to display “American flag blue” water—is “75 percent gone” and will be repaired by early the following week. Law enforcement is investigating the alleged damage as the project, which Trump self-congratulated for completing in one month instead of the originally projected timeline, continues to face persistent algae growth and visible surface deterioration.

Trump used a lengthy Truth Social post to tout his administration’s work “cleaning, renovated, and beautified” dozens of sites across Washington, D.C., while claiming the pool damage stemmed from “real problems with vandalism” rather than acknowledging the project’s structural or maintenance failures. The president framed the algae bloom and peeling material as external sabotage, deflecting from questions about why the multimillion-dollar renovation produced substandard results immediately after completion. Trump stated that damage is “limited” and law enforcement is investigating the alleged vandalism.

Former George W. Bush adviser Scott Jennings defended Trump’s vandalism claims during a CNN appearance, stating it is “absolutely true” that someone vandalized the grass surrounding the pool. Jennings characterized Trump’s critics as “broken brained” for allegedly vandalizing national monuments out of hatred for the president, and expressed hope that perpetrators would face jail time. Jennings praised Trump’s efforts to clean up the nation’s capital, endorsing the president’s framing of the pool’s problems as deliberate destruction rather than project defects.

Trump previously promoted the Lincoln pool renovation at an Oval Office event focused on executive orders, characterizing the historic structure—which has operated since 1922 and required only routine maintenance until his administration’s intervention—as “filthy” and “dirty” to justify the expensive overhaul. The project’s rapid deterioration and persistent algae bloom have drawn public scrutiny, yet Trump continues to attribute visible problems to external sabotage and media interference rather than project execution.



(Source: https://www.newsweek.com/trump-reflecting-pool-algae-vandalism-peeling-floor-12098491)

Trump Family Backs $12,000 UFC Coins at White House

President Trump and his sons Eric and Donald Jr., through the Trump Organization, partnered with UFC to sell commemorative coins ranging from $250 to $12,000 ahead of a UFC event scheduled for June 14 at the White House during Trump’s birthday celebration. The coins, branded “Freedom 250” and featuring Trump’s and UFC promoter Dana White’s likenesses, launch Tuesday and are marketed as commemorating both America’s 250th anniversary and what the marketing describes as a “defining patriotic moment” between Trump and the UFC.

Trump Coins, the vendor, claims the Trump Organization does not manufacture or directly sell the medallions despite the partnership, leaving the financial benefit to Trump’s organization unclear. The website asserts Trump “designed” the coins, though Trump has publicly backed the merchandise while his likeness is cleared for commercial use. The timing positions the coin sales days before the White House UFC event, which will air on a streaming platform operated by a Trump-aligned executive.

The merchandise rollout exemplifies Trump’s use of official government events and venues to benefit himself and his business interests. The UFC Octagon construction on the White House South Lawn for the June 14 event timed to Trump’s birthday demonstrates the overlapping commercial and governmental promotion that has become routine under his administration. A watchdog group lawsuit seeking to block the event remains under judicial review.

This scheme mirrors Trump’s pattern of leveraging his presidency for personal and family financial gain. Earlier in 2026, Trump awarded a $5 million no-bid contract to gild statues near the Lincoln Memorial, bypassing competitive bidding for a July 4 deadline, further demonstrating how he converts public resources and national celebrations into vehicles for self-promotion and enrichment.

The coin sales proceed as Trump’s unpopular military action in Iran has driven gas prices upward and eroded economic confidence among Americans facing financial strain. His promotion of high-priced merchandise bearing his image while economic conditions deteriorate underscores his indifference to constituents’ material circumstances.



(Source: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-organization-ufc-selling-freedom-250-coins_n_6a26db25e4b0626f4fe031e5?ncid_tag=fcbklnkushpmg00000013&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=us_politics&d_id=12028784&fbclid=IwdGRjcASVAWpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeHrD_hYJhv2SCWlEdkt9rJrGbH2llUjXajLTPNiEKqByXuf2aDfPjfHib3WU_aem_DUZAMzFk8FZV3-TD8lSSyg)

Trump’s Plan to Meet With AI Companies Was News to AI Companies – NOTUS — News of the United States

President Donald Trump announced Friday he had scheduled a meeting with major artificial intelligence companies to discuss the government acquiring equity stakes in their firms. The announcement blindsided the companies themselves, who learned of the purported meeting only through Trump’s comments to reporters on Air Force One, according to three sources familiar with private deliberations. As of Monday afternoon, the White House had provided no details about timing or location for the supposed meeting.

Trump stated he would meet with “all of the companies” to discuss how “the American people can benefit from the success of AI” through government ownership of “pieces” of their businesses. However, leading AI firms including OpenAI, Anthropic, SpaceX, and Google declined to confirm any scheduled meeting or prior coordination with the administration. The companies’ surprise at Trump’s public announcement underscores his pattern of using press statements to announce policy positions without advance notification to affected parties.

The proposal to nationalize equity in major AI companies would constitute one of the most consequential federal interventions in the private sector in modern history, forcing firms to forfeit billions in company value and creating novel legal and regulatory complications. Trump has already moved to claim equity stakes across American corporations, including a 10% share of Intel, and has signaled intent to execute similar deals. The AI companies face pressure to comply, as they depend on federal government support for logistics and regulatory matters, making direct confrontation with Trump administratively costly.

Internal disagreement exists within the tech industry about the nationalization proposal. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman pitched the idea to Trump in early 2025 and discussed it again with senior officials recently. However, Anthropic, now valued at $900 billion as the world’s most valuable AI company, had not yet engaged in such discussions as of last week. David Sacks, Trump’s former AI czar, publicly opposed the plan, warning that government ownership would accelerate “corporate-government fusion” and risk establishing “a CCP-style social credit system in the U.S.”

Trump’s unannounced equity nationalization scheme demonstrates his authoritarian approach to governing, using public pressure and coercive threats rather than legitimate negotiation. By announcing policy to the press before consulting affected companies, Trump forced firms into a position where resistance becomes publicly visible and administratively risky. The schem(Source: https://www.notus.org/technology/trump-blindsided-ai-companies-equity-meeting-plan)e consolidates Trump’s control over critical technology sectors essential to national defense and economic competition, embodying his drive toward state control of private enterprise.

Donors won $50B in contracts after giving to Trump ballroom project, report says – The Washington Post

More than half of the identified donors to President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom project secured new or expanded federal contracts totaling over $50 billion within six months, according to a government watchdog report released Thursday. The pattern demonstrates Trump’s systematic use of federal procurement to reward financial backers, directly linking private donations to government spending decisions that benefit the donors themselves.

Trump’s ballroom project, housed in the White House East Wing, has become a vehicle for channeling taxpayer money to his political allies. The $50 billion in contracts awarded to ballroom donors represents a direct return on investment for those who funded the construction, establishing a quid pro quo arrangement between private contributions and federal contracts that contradicts basic principles of competitive procurement.

The watchdog group’s findings document how Trump weaponizes federal contracting authority to consolidate loyalty and enrich his network. This contracting pattern follows Trump’s demand that Senate Majority Leader John Thune fire Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough after she blocked $1 billion in taxpayer funding for the ballroom project from a budget reconciliation bill, indicating Trump’s willingness to attack institutional independence when it impedes his financial interests.

Trump has repeatedly misrepresented the ballroom project’s cost and scope. While Trump claimed the $400 million project would be completed ahead of schedule and under budget, Senate Republicans simultaneously requested $1 billion in additional taxpayer security funding tied to the construction, exposing the gap between Trump’s public statements and the actual financial burden on taxpayers.

The $50 billion in contracts awarded to ballroom donors exemplifies how Trump transforms the executive branch into a personal enrichment apparatus. By funneling federal money to those who fund his projects, Trump corrupts the procurement process, ensures absolute loyalty through financial dependency, and establishes the institutional mechanisms necessary for perpetuating his control beyond a single term.(Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/06/04/donors-won-50b-contracts-after-giving-trump-ballroom-project-report-says/)

Company Tied to Donald Trump Jr. Got a Deal After White House Intervened — ProPublica

White House adviser Peter Navarro initiated a request for the Pentagon to issue a $620 million loan to Vulcan Elements, a North Carolina startup in which Donald Trump Jr.'s venture capital firm 1789 Capital holds an undisclosed stake, according to Defense Department records and interviews reviewed by ProPublica. Defense officials accelerated the loan process at Navarro's direction, with Pentagon staff working nights and under compressed timelines to complete the deal in weeks rather than the months typically required for vetting such companies.

Vulcan was one of dozens of companies the Pentagon was considering for funding, but it was the only deal initiated directly by a White House aide to the president, according to a Pentagon official. Trump Jr.'s firm invested approximately $65 million in Vulcan in August 2025, three months before the Pentagon announced the loan. Following the announcement, estimates of Vulcan's valuation jumped tenfold, from roughly $200 million to approximately $2 billion, directly benefiting Trump Jr.'s investment.

Navarro and Trump Jr. maintain a close personal relationship, with the president's son visiting Navarro in prison and later featuring him on his streaming show just a week before the Vulcan deal was announced. A Trump Jr. spokesperson claimed the president's son has no knowledge of how the deal came together and did not discuss Vulcan with Navarro, though the Pentagon's Office of Strategic Capital operates under new leadership appointed by the Trump administration that prioritizes rapid deal-making through personal networks rather than competitive application processes.

The Pentagon and White House have denied preferential treatment, with a Pentagon spokesperson stating that outside affiliations and political connections play no role in funding decisions. However, Richard Painter, the chief White House ethics lawyer during the George W. Bush administration, stated that presidential aides should not intervene in agency contracting or lending decisions that financially benefit the president's family, calling such actions "corruption we pay for."

The Office of Strategic Capital is expected to deploy billions more in coming months to critical mineral and military technology companies. Additional companies tied to Trump Jr., including Unusual Machines, a Florida drone parts manufacturer where he sits on the advisory board and holds millions in shares, are reportedly under Pentagon review for funding, prompting Democratic lawmakers to demand investigations into potential self-dealing and conflicts of interest as the Trump administration deploys billions in government investments.

(Source: https://www.propublica.org/article/donald-trump-jr-vulcan-deal-white-house)

Trump Claims $400M TikTok Settlement for DC Arch

The Trump administration is negotiating a $400 million settlement with TikTok to resolve a 2024 Department of Justice lawsuit alleging the social media company violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act by collecting extensive data from millions of children under 13 without parental consent. Rather than compensating victims of the alleged privacy violations, Trump’s administration intends to direct the settlement funds toward “beautification” projects in Washington, D.C., including a 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery that Trump has personally promoted.

The settlement, which does not require TikTok to admit wrongdoing, still requires approval by TikTok’s board. The original lawsuit detailed how TikTok allegedly allowed children to create accounts without parental notification, collected their personal information, exposed them to adult content, served them advertisements, and enabled adults to contact them directly. TikTok has disputed the claims, arguing it exceeds federal requirements and blamed children for circumventing company policies.

Trump personally intervened to save TikTok in January 2025 after the company faced a ban. He signed an executive order allowing TikTok to continue operating and later praised a $14 billion deal creating an American venture partially owned by Trump ally Larry Ellison’s Oracle, Silver Lake, and other investors including the Abu Dhabi firm MGX. ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, retains a minority stake in the U.S. version. Trump stated he was “so happy to have helped in saving TikTok” and thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for approving the deal.

This settlement contradicts Trump administration policy established under former Attorney General Pam Bondi in 2025, which requires settlements to compensate victims or redress harm rather than fund third-party projects unrelated to the alleged wrongdoing. The Justice Department regularly reaches settlements with companies, but using settlement funds to directly finance the president’s personal capital improvement projects departs sharply from standard practice. White House officials discussed whether using the money for Trump’s triumphal arch could be done legally.

The $400 million settlement complements Trump’s proposed 2027 budget allocation of $10 billion for a “Presidential Capital Stewardship Program” while the administration simultaneously cuts the National Park Service budget by more than $1 billion and eliminates approximately 3,000 positions from the agency that manages over 400 sites.

(Source: https://abcnews.com/US/trump-administration-eyeing-400m-settlement-tiktok-dc-beautification/story?id=132707914)

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