[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 81 (Wednesday, May 14, 2025)]
[House]
[Page H2009]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  ENDING PAY-FOR-PLAY POLITICAL GIFTS

  (Mr. Cisneros of California was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. CISNEROS. Mr. Speaker, Donald Trump was elected with a mandate to 
improve the lives of hardworking Americans, to lower housing costs, to 
make groceries, childcare, and medicine more affordable, and to help 
our seniors get the care they need.
  What has he done instead? He has used his position to inflate his own 
wealth and pad the pocketbooks of billionaire donors, all at the 
expense of the very people who elected him.
  Unlike every single President before him, Donald Trump has refused to 
divest his business interests. He didn't even put them in a blind 
trust. Instead, he handed them over to his family, who continues to 
profit.
  In the past year alone, Donald Trump has doubled his fortune from 
$2.3 billion to $5.1 billion. He now has over $5 billion. How is he 
doing that? By treating public office like a personal business 
opportunity.
  Crypto investments make up $2.9 billion of the Trump family's net 
worth. Just days after the inauguration, Trump announced a Trump meme 
coin used to funnel money into his and his family's pockets. Now, the 
Trump family crypto mining scheme is going public as their payouts grow 
larger.
  This is more than a conflict of interest. It is blatant corruption. 
He is now considering accepting a $400 million jet from Qatar dubbed a 
``palace in the sky.'' How is this even ethical? Even some of my 
Republican colleagues agree that not only is this wrong, but it is a 
national security risk.
  As a Member of Congress, I can't even accept a gift of more than $50, 
let alone $400 million. It is a slap in the face of millions of people 
who work long hours just to put food on the table and afford the roofs 
over their heads.
  He isn't looking out for the best interests of the American people. 
He is only looking for what is good for the Trump business.
  While House Republicans are out here snatching SNAP benefits away 
from children, Trump is making sure his billionaire buddies get higher 
tax breaks.
  While families stress over how to make ends meet with high costs, 
Trump is flaunting hotels and golf courses.
  While House Republicans debate which critical funding to cut, Donald 
Trump is raking in the excess to expand his personal empire.

  Donald Trump is making a mockery of public office by continuing to 
enrich himself at the taxpayers' expense. If a Democrat were in the 
White House, my friends across the aisle would be losing their minds 
right now. Wrong is still wrong, regardless of which party this 
President belongs to.
  We need to put an end to Donald Trump's pay-for-play political gifts 
for the sake of our reputation, our democracy, and our future.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain from 
engaging in personalities toward the President.

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