‘Criminal’: Trump Tries to Cast Himself as a Selfless President for Giving Up His Salary, But Critics Hit Him with a Billion-Dollar Reality Check

President Donald Trump once again hijacked an event, veering off script and making an announcement all about himself.

Trump was at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C., to launch a new AI website, which is intended to make it easier for Americans to access government services.

But no matter how hard he tries, if at all, he can’t seem to help himself.

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U.S. President Donald Trump brags about giving away his presidential salary. (Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

Surrounded by administration officials and tech industry leaders on Sept. 29, Trump suddenly began crowing about himself and how he’s giving away his government paycheck.

He whined that no one recognizes him or thanks him for giving up his $400,000 a year paycheck.

“We got ’em for the right price. I think it’s nothing. Well, you got me for nothing too,” Trump complained.

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“I don’t take my salary. Do you believe? No other president, they think that no other president has ever served without receiving their salary,” Trump boasted, before adding, “They think George Washington who was actually a very wealthy man, they think George Washington did not get a salary, but they’re not sure about that.”

“But they’re smart. They take their salary,” he proclaimed without explaining who “they” is.

“I decided not to, including in my first term. Do I get thanks for it? None. Nobody ever says, “Thank you very much, sir.’ Oh boy, oh boy,” he grumbled aloud, without any public shame at all.

In a Truth Social post last summer, Trump also touted how he’s giving up his salary.

“I am proud to be the only President (with the possible exception of the Late, Great George Washington) to donate my Salary,” Trump boasted incorrectly.

In fact, George Washington did in fact accept his $25,000 salary, leaving Herbert Hoover and John F. Kennedy as the only previous presidents before Trump to donate their entire salaries to charity.

Social media exploded, pointing out the obvious about how much Trump has earned since retaking office.

“Biggest conman to ever step foot in the Oval Office… but the parasite cankle humpers ‘got him for nothing’ – unf–kingbelievable,” an angry X user screamed.

Others piled on.

“The richest guy in the room fishing for a thank-you card because he skipped a $400k paycheck. That’s not public service. That’s a man who tips with compliments and then waits by the door.”

This commenter pointed out the elephant in the room.

“Right, no salary, but several billion dollars in crypto. What a selfless assh-le. Someone give him a peace prize.”

Another also pointed out the obvious. “You don’t ‘take’ your $450,000 salary because you raked in $2.5B from insider trading, crypto, and bribes, you f–king criminal. “

But what does he need a government salary for anyway, when critics say he’s been using the office of the presidency to illegally make billions of dollars on cryptocurrency investments and other ventures.

Trump’s salary as president is $400,000 with a $50,000 expense account and paltry next to earning billions.

Trump’s mandatory financial disclosure from last year showed an astonishing windfall during his first year back in office of extraordinary proportions.

The filing back in late June 2026 showed Trump made around $1.4 billion from his family’s cryptocurrency business, according to The New York Times. The total, including his expansive real estate holdings, netted the president and his family more than $2 billion. That compares to just $622 million he made in 2024 before he returned to the White House.

Opponents say it’s very clear Trump has been using his office to make billions of dollars.

In fact, shortly after the financial disclosure showing the staggering sum he netted, he falsely tried to argue that his personal financial gains came from the stock market. He insisted his assets were in a trust, and he bragged again about donating his presidential salary.

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