As a lifelong criminal, Donald Trump has relied on fraud as his most preferred crime to profit and deceive unsuspecting people and tax levying entities. Fraud is Trump’s favorite crime, second to sexual assault.
Fraud is Trump’s signature crime. He has now made it a pattern for other criminals to follow at the state and national levels by removing inspector generals at federal agencies, pardoning fraudsters, and dismantling consumer protection agencies, promoting cryptocurrencies that are being used as a leading medium of tax evasion and fraud, and pushing a libertarian policy at the state and federal levels that will remove fraud enforcement capabilities to protect average citizens.
But why would Trump make fraud the centerpiece of his criminal and sociopathic history?
Fraud is the societal glue that holds commercial and relational structures together. When people enter business and personal relationships, it is based on a certain degree of trust. The engine behind fraud is deceit and greed.
If you want to destroy a society, you commit fraud on a massive scale to create distrust, fear, and uncertainty, and emotional and financial loss. This is Trump’s goal.
Academics have identified fraud and the personality defects of those who perpetrate it. The Journal of Forensic Accounting and Research found that fraudsters are driven by the “Dark Triad,” which consists of three negative traits: narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism, defined as “a personality trait characterized by interpersonal manipulation, a cynical view of human nature, and a cold disregard for morality to achieve selfish goals.”
The Journal of Corporate Criminality also has an excellent article on corporate psychopaths and people with “toxic and predatory personalities,” who have committed some of the largest frauds in history.
Trump’s Long History of Fraud
For background, here is a list of Trump’s fraud cases and convictions:
As of February 2026, Donald Trump’s fraud-related legal record includes both criminal convictions and civil liabilities, many of which have been significantly updated since his return to the presidency.
Criminal Convictions
“Hush Money” Case (Falsification of Business Records): In May 2024, Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to conceal hush-money payments to Stormy Daniels.
Sentence: On January 10, 2025, Judge Juan Merchan sentenced him to an unconditional discharge, meaning the conviction remains on his record as a felony, but he faces no jail time, fines, or probation.
Status: Trump is currently appealing the conviction by arguing he is shielded by presidential immunity
Trump Organization Tax Fraud: In December 2022, the Trump Corporation and Trump Payroll Corp. were convicted on 17 criminal charges, including conspiracy, tax fraud, and a scheme to defraud. The companies were ordered to pay a maximum fine of $1.6 million.
Civil Fraud Liability
New York Civil Fraud Case: In February 2024, a New York judge found Trump liable for a decade-long scheme to inflate his net worth to obtain better loan terms. 
Current Standing: In August 2025, a New York appeals court overturned the $515 million financial penalty, ruling it “excessive” and a violation of the Eighth Amendment. However, the court upheld the finding of liability for fraud.
Restrictions: Other punishments, such as a three-year ban on Trump serving as an officer or director of any New York corporation, remain in place.
Trump University: In 2016, Trump settled three lawsuits for $25 million after he was found to have defrauded students through his real estate seminars.
Election-Related Fraud Allegations: Federal and state (Georgia) cases involving alleged election subversion and fraud were largely dismissed or dropped throughout 2024 and 2025 following his reelection, in accordance with DOJ policy regarding sitting presidents.
Trump’s Pardons of Fellow Convicted Fraudsters
Trump also loves fraudsters and has pardoned other convicted criminals.
Trump has used his executive power to pardon numerous individuals convicted of various types of fraud during his two terms as president.
Prominent Fraud Pardons (2017–2021)
- Paul Manafort: His former campaign chairman was pardoned for crimes, including bank fraud and tax fraud, related to his work in Ukraine.
- Michael Milken: A high-profile financier pardoned for securities fraud, mail fraud, and tax fraud.
- Charles Kushner: The father of Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, was pardoned for tax evasion and making false statements. He is a convicted felon and disbarred attorney. In 2025, Trump named him the US ambassador to France and Monaco. Charles Kushner also admitted to hiring a hooker to entrap his brother-in-law to gain an advantage in a business deal. Kushner said he personally recruited the prostitute and instructed that the videotape be mailed to the cooperating witness, according to the Justice Department.
- Chris Collins: The first member of Congress to endorse Trump was pardoned for conspiracy to commit securities fraud (insider trading).
- Conrad Black: A former media mogul and Trump biographer pardoned for mail fraud and obstruction of justice.
- Dinesh D’Souza: A conservative commentator pardoned for campaign contribution fraud.
- Alfonso Costa: A former dentist and business partner of Ben Carson, pardoned for health care fraud.
- Steve Bannon: Pardoned for charges related to wire fraud and money laundering in the “We Build the Wall” crowdfunding campaign.
Recent Fraud Pardons (2025–2026)
- Todd and Julie Chrisley: Reality TV stars pardoned in May 2025 for bank fraud and tax evasion involving more than $30 million in false financial statements.
- Trevor Milton: The founder of Nikola Corp., was pardoned in March 2025 for securities fraud and wire fraud after being convicted of lying to investors.
- Michelle Fiore: A former Nevada lawmaker pardoned in April 2025 for wire fraud related to the misuse of funds intended for a police memorial.
- Joseph Schwartz: A nursing home executive pardoned in November 2025 for a $38 million tax fraud scheme.
- Glen Casada & Cade Cothren: Former Tennessee political figures pardoned in November 2025 for honest services fraud and public corruption.
- Devon Archer, a former business partner of Hunter Biden, was pardoned for his role in a $60 million bond-fraud scheme.
- George Santos: Former U.S. Representative whose sentence for wire fraud and other crimes was commuted by Trump in October 2025.
- Joe Klecko: Former NFL player pardoned in February 2026 for perjury related to an insurance fraud investigation.
- Billy Cannon: Former NFL player given a posthumous pardon in February 2026 for a 1980s counterfeiting conviction.
How Trump Perpetuates Frauds
In addition to committing fraud himself and pardoning other fraudsters, Trump seeks to normalize fraud by making it easier for ordinary citizens to avoid paying taxes, launder money, deceive consumers, and undermine everyday commerce.
Just as Trump has literally taken a wrecking ball to the White House West Wing, and is now “remodeling” (aka demolishing) the Kennedy Center, Trump’s dystopian, death wish for the country as we know it includes the libertarian notion that only the strongest should survive, and the rest of the unsuspecting, uninformed population should be viewed as marks for fraudsters.
Trump and his followers have attempted to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Board, the leading federal agency that has taken on global banks for their programs to deceive and defraud customers and borrowers. He fired 18 Inspector Generals (IGs) at federal agencies as of February 2026, who oversee spending and billing processes to prevent fraud and other abuses. During his first term (2017–2021), Trump also dismissed or replaced at least five IGs in a six-week span in 2020. IGs are independent, nonpartisan “watchdogs” within federal agencies, overseeing government accountability and protecting taxpayer funds.
Crypto Currency: The Fraudsters Medium of Exchange
Since fraudsters steal money from their targets, they also need a fast, untraceable way to move it into accounts that can be easily accessed and withdrawn. Enter cryptocurrency.
This deception medium makes it logical that the Trump crime family would have a significant presence in the crypto market.
During his second term, Trump has shifted the U.S. government’s approach to cryptocurrency, moving from his earlier skepticism to a more proactive “pro-crypto” stance. He did this by executive actions to establish a national Bitcoin reserve, the launch of major family-owned crypto ventures, and the overhaul of federal regulatory agencies (the SEC and CFTC) with crypto advocates.
For a quick killing, Trump has also sold wooden nickels, also known as “meme coins” or “branded tokens” to gullible followers, such as $TRUMP and $MELANIA, that brought him hundreds of millions in trading fees for the family.
Recognizing that crypto can be a great way to fund the Trump crime family’s retirement, the gang filed an ETF in February 2026 called the Trump Media and Technology Group. The group also owns World Swap, a global foreign exchange and remittance platform.
Setting Up An Alternative Financial Reality to Hide Money
To correct the mistaken belief that the Trump crime family is always working for the benefit of taxpayers, the reality is that a number of Trump appointees and friendly billionaires have plenty of time to expand their crypto interests at taxpayer expense.
Here is a list of Trump allies who are very involved in crypto, even as the majority of average Americans would never have a reason to buy crypto, a useless medium of exchange for everyday people.
Eric & Donald Trump Jr.; Barron Trump; Howard Lutnick, and his son, Zach, (Their family entities have received at least $31 million in upfront payouts from crypto deals); Robert Kennedy Jr.; David Sacks (Trump’s Crypto & AI Czar); Elon Musk; Tyler & Cameron Winklevoss; Brian Armstrong (Coinbase); and Justin Sun (Tron).
Trump has also used his name and access to host a crypto conference in February 2026, which attracted the heads of Goldman Sachs and NASDAQ, to widen the crypto net and eventually catch other unsuspecting investors.
Fraud is Part of Florida’s History
All this should come as no surprise that Trump lives in Palm Beach, Florida, the state with the highest incidence of fraud in the nation.
Florida, under the MAGA Governor Ron DeSantis, has done little to combat fraud.
Florida’s fraud statistics are startling. The numbers are part of the state’s history, dating back to the famous Miami land scams that lasted from 1924 to 1926, when unsuspecting buyers from up north purchased lots that were underwater. When the land bubble burst, aided by a large hurricane in 1926, it took down local banks, developers, and speculators. Almost 100 years later, Florida remains attractive to white-collar thieves because of its wealth, transient population, and lax enforcement.
Florida’s white-collar criminal history has not escaped the notice of its political class. Everyone, from governors to local elected officials, has benefited from fraud of all sizes. Today, Governor Ron DeSantis has not pulled the welcome mat for fraudsters in the Sunshine State.
The Republican mayor of Boca Raton, Susan Haynie, pleaded guilty in 2021 to misuse of public office, public corruption, and failure to disclose voting conflicts with two commercial real estate firms. Florida MAGA Republican Senator and former governor Rick Scott was also the indirect beneficiary of the largest Medicare-Medicaid fraud scheme in U.S. history, a fraud scheme that was settled for $1.7 billion. During the period when the fraud scheme was developing, Scott served as CEO and Chairman of Columbia/Hospital Corporation of America. He escaped prosecution and even received a bonus from the company.
While Florida is the nation’s third most populous state, it ranks first in the number of fraud reports filed by citizens, according to the site security.org. The targets of fraud are often younger people, but people over 70 reported losing more money. The typical person over age 80 lost $1,500, triple the loss of victims in their 20s, the FTC said in a press release.
The types of fraud most commonly reported in Florida include phony debt collections, identity theft, COVID-related federal fund distributions, impostor scams, credit bureau, banking and lending, mobile phone, and auto-related fraud (fake accidents and inflated repair costs).
So, if you want to commit fraud, come to Florida. Everyone, including Trump and his family, lives in Florida. Why miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime?
Why the Criminal Epstein Loved Florida
The state’s lax regulations and enforcement have also made it a haven for white-collar criminals, and now billionaires, who want to live in South Florida since the state has different rules for wealthy people. When Jeffrey Epstein was under house arrest in July 2009, he was regularly seen driving around town and going to lunch when he was supposed to be home, thanks to the lack of oversight by the police and the Palm Beach District Attorney’s office.
Specifically, “During the first nine months of his house arrest, Epstein made 14 trips to New York to meet with his attorneys and five trips to the Caribbean on business — always flying on his private jet, according to his daily logs required as part of his house arrest,” according to the Palm Beach Post.
This same Palm Beach Post article said that Epstein received special treatment while he was in jail. “After pleading guilty, Epstein was taken directly from the courtroom to jail, where the special treatment continued. Epstein’s cell was not locked; he had free access to the attorney meeting room, where a new television had been installed. He was transferred to a private wing of the stockade after he agreed to pay the deputies to guard him.
“Epstein was also allowed out of the stockade for up to 12 hours a day, six days a week, on work-release after agreeing to pay off-duty deputies to guard him at his office at 250 Australian Ave. On workdays, Epstein’s driver picked him up at the stockade and drove him several miles to his office… at a nonprofit he founded seven months before he pleaded guilty.”
This same special treatment for a convicted sex criminal should apply to billionaires and white-collar fraudsters who move to South Florida. In South Florida, they will be under the shadow of Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s home and the nation’s fraud headquarters.
