Guest: Eric Trump, American businessman and political activist, second son of Donald Trump

Hosts: Bonnie; David

Podcast Source: Bonnie Blockchain

Original Title: [Exclusive] Eric Trump, Son of Trump: My Dad Is My Best Friend! Studied the Art of Trading Since Childhood! America’s Ambitions to Dominate AI, Energy, and Bitcoin! [Bonnie Blockchain]

Air Date: May 12, 2026

Key Takeaways

In this exclusive interview, Eric Trump shares his father Donald Trump’s crypto strategy, explains the founding of American Bitcoin—a Bitcoin mining company—and discusses how the U.S. will lead in the global race for AI and energy, why other nations cannot catch up, and the story of the Trump family being betrayed by major banks.

He also reflects on the business and negotiation mindset he learned growing up with his father, how *Trump: The Art of the Deal* shaped his life, and the intimate, affectionate side of Donald Trump at home.

Highlighting Insights

On why the U.S. must win the AI, energy, and crypto races

On Bitcoin’s global value and the enduring dominance of the U.S. dollar

On American Bitcoin’s mining strategy

On the two parallel Bitcoin company competitions

On being cut off by banks and entering the crypto industry

On his father, childhood, and family relationships

New Fed Chair, Energy, Crypto

David: Eric, welcome to the show. Kevin Walsh is widely seen as the next Federal Reserve Chair—an individual deeply versed in technology with strong ties to Silicon Valley. If he assumes the role, he may become the most technologically literate Fed Chair in history. He has previously stated that Bitcoin and AI will be the twin drivers of the U.S. economy. What do you see this meaning for the future of Bitcoin and AI?

Eric Trump:

Let me simplify this. My father believes the U.S. must win in every domain we engage in. He firmly believes America must lead in energy, dominate in AI, and prevail in cryptocurrency. This is not just a campaign platform—it’s his entire mandate.

My father ran as the “Crypto President.” He believes in cryptocurrency, in the ability of capital to flow more efficiently, securely, and transparently than ever before. He trusts the industry, believes in Bitcoin, and supports digital assets. Therefore, it’s entirely logical that those around him share these foundational beliefs. Anyone who doesn’t align with this vision wouldn’t be part of his inner circle.

Look globally—this reality is unmistakable. Consider the ongoing transformation in digital assets, tokenization, what Bitcoin has already achieved, and the explosive growth over the past decade. The momentum is undeniable.

Now layer this on top of another critical factor: We have a government supportive of crypto, and the U.S. likely possesses the world’s best energy infrastructure. We’ve achieved energy independence and are even exporting energy. If Europe wants to challenge AI, good luck. If they want to compete in crypto? Good luck too. They simply lack the energy foundation to sustain such ambitions.

So we will win—not because we’re lucky, but because we’re first movers. We are the largest economy globally, with clear advantages. Now we have a government pushing this agenda, and we possess the energy resources needed to execute it.

Since my father took office, crypto policy has undergone a 180-degree shift. Under the Biden administration, nearly anyone advocating for better, more efficient, or modern financial systems was imprisoned. That era is over. We now have a Fed Chair who isn’t just friendly toward crypto—he genuinely understands it.

Biden and Kamala Harris can’t even spell “AI.” They don’t know what they’re talking about, and they refuse to learn. My father wants to win this race—to be the best in the world. And let me add: if the U.S. doesn’t lead, Asia will. If the U.S. hesitates, the Middle East will step in. So we’re leading, and this is exactly what America must do.

Can the World Win Together?

Bonnie: Is it possible for everyone to win together?

Eric Trump:

I believe so. Cryptocurrency is inherently a global digital financial system. I’m the founder and head of American Bitcoin, and I fully believe in digital assets.

I’ll go further: Bitcoin’s role in many international markets may be just as critical—or even more vital—than its position in the U.S., despite America being the world’s largest economy. In regions plagued by hyperinflation, dysfunctional banks, corrupt governments, unstable markets, and systemic corruption, what could possibly be more suitable than holding Bitcoin? No one can seize your funds in the middle of the night. Institutions can’t lose your money. Capital markets can’t crash and destroy your wealth.

Suddenly, you gain 24/7 global liquidity—accessible anytime, anywhere—via your iPad or smartphone.

I’d argue that the global community stands to benefit the most from this ecosystem, as it fosters financial sovereignty and freedom worldwide, connecting global finance in ways never before possible.

For instance, if I want to send money to Morocco today, how would I do it? If I rely on SWIFT, I need to find a Moroccan bank, determine who to contact, speak the same language, and check exchange rates. Crypto eliminates all of that. It enables instant, borderless fund transfers globally.

So, is it global? Absolutely. The entire concept of cryptocurrency and digital assets is built to be global. Who benefits the most? The United States. Because everyone wants dollars. Nobody wants euros. Nobody wants other currencies—they want dollars. So yes, this is a global initiative—but America will be the biggest beneficiary.

Why Mine Bitcoin in the U.S.?

Bonnie: Let’s talk about American Bitcoin. What draws Bitcoin miners to the U.S.? Miners typically seek low energy costs and favorable capital gains tax environments. How do we make mining in the U.S. more advantageous for miners themselves?

Eric Trump:

First, the U.S. offers several tax policies that support this. For example, bonus depreciation allows immediate deduction of capital investments—something essential given that mining rigs, facilities, and energy infrastructure are highly capital-intensive. As in any U.S. industry, investing in infrastructure here comes with significant tax advantages.

Second, we have the world’s best energy resources. Try doing this in the UK—you won’t stand a chance. Their domestic energy production falls far short of consumption. They can’t win the AI race, the crypto race, or even mine Bitcoin. The U.S. enjoys some of the lowest energy costs globally. In Texas alone—where the vast majority of American Bitcoin mining takes place—the electricity prices are among the best in the world. This gives us a massive competitive edge.

American Bitcoin went public just 8 months and 3 days ago. Today, we hold over 7,000 BTC. We built this company from zero—we now operate more than 90,000 mining machines, with hash rate exceeding 28 EH/s, representing roughly 2.5% to 3% of global Bitcoin mining. In just under nine months, this is an extraordinary achievement.

We’ve done this on U.S. soil, using U.S. energy. America must become the dominant force in all crypto-related activities, digital markets, and digital finance globally. This is a core mission of mine—and one I’m pursuing with relentless speed.

The Trump Family’s “Art of the Deal”

Bonnie: I love *The Art of the Deal*. I even made a dedicated video on it. How has it shaped your view on deals and business?

Eric Trump:

I’ve lived inside *The Art of the Deal* my entire life. I was practically born under its principles. When the book was published, I was still very young. It has served as a guiding philosophy throughout my existence.

I run the Trump Organization daily. Before my father entered politics, I worked alongside him virtually every second of every day. He is my best friend in this world. These experiences and lessons were instilled in us deeply—always negotiate, always operate with extreme efficiency and minimal overhead.

We apply this rigor at American Bitcoin. We negotiate everything. We operate with laser focus and extreme lean efficiency. We likely have the lowest SG&A costs in the entire industry—our competitors are in a completely different league.

American Bitcoin Strategy

Eric Trump:

We achieve this because we refuse to pay exorbitant salaries to CEOs in cash. At the end of the day, what are we trying to build? We’re building our own Bitcoin treasury.

If you spend hundreds of millions on executive compensation—money that could instead be invested in an asset that has grown ~70% annually over the past decade—which creates more shareholder value: lavish executive pay, or actually accumulating Bitcoin, holding it, and letting it appreciate year after year?

David: How do you decide how much mined Bitcoin to sell into the market?

Eric Trump:

We strive to hold every single Bitcoin we mine. Our singular mission is to grow our Bitcoin reserves. Our north star is increasing the number of Satoshis per share.

Never Sell Bitcoin?

David: Michael Saylor recently said he might sell some Bitcoin to fund dividends. Under what circumstances would you consider selling any Bitcoin? If someone asked you, “Can we sell some Bitcoin?” what would justify it?

Eric Trump:

Only in a catastrophic scenario. We are American Bitcoin. We believe in Bitcoin. It would be extraordinarily difficult—borderline impossible—for us to sell any of our treasury Bitcoin, regardless of what happens. Our sole objective is to expand that reserve.

Look at what’s happening across the global ecosystem. See what retail investors are doing. Observe institutional adoption. Watch the largest U.S. banks stockpiling Bitcoin. Witness Fortune 500 companies integrating Bitcoin into their balance sheets like never before. Notice the evolving regulatory framework, and the fact that countries worldwide are following America’s lead in embracing crypto.

Crypto adoption is accelerating—especially Bitcoin, which is clearly winning this race. This trend is unprecedented. If we believe Bitcoin is the perfect financial instrument, why would we abandon it? So our entire thesis is to accumulate as much as possible.

The Two Bitcoin Company Competitions

Eric Trump:

We see two distinct races. Michael is a close friend—I’ve known him for 25 years, long before he joined MicroStrategy. I’ve interviewed him myself.

The first race: Who can accumulate the most Bitcoin? Michael has done this in an astonishing way—he’s visionary.

The second race: Who can acquire the most Bitcoin at the lowest cost? And I can tell you: at American Bitcoin, we’re aiming to win that race. We want to be the ones acquiring the most Bitcoin at the lowest cost.

Can you grow a $1 wheat crop for 50 cents? A $1 corn crop for 50 cents? Obviously not—there’s a huge gap. Can you mine $1 worth of gold for 50 cents? What other commodity or product can you extract at roughly half the market price?

This is what American Bitcoin does every single day. Leveraging our infrastructure, low-cost structure, and superior energy advantage, this is an exceptional business model. We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished in just eight months.

The Enemy of My Enemy Is My Friend

Bonnie: Why is Bitcoin personally important to you?

Eric Trump:

Digital assets matter to me because we were abandoned by the banking system. Politics in America is brutal—like politics everywhere. You face harsh realities in Canada, in Europe, everywhere. But we were cast out by America’s largest banks—despite doing nothing wrong.

We owned the finest hotels, the most prestigious residential towers, the best commercial buildings, and some of the world’s greatest real estate. Yet, we were kicked out by major banks like JPMorgan and Capital One. We were treated like dogs—300 accounts shut down overnight, purely due to political reasons.

This betrayal pushed us into digital assets, into DeFi, and introduced us to others who had suffered the same fate. As the old saying goes: *The enemy of my enemy is my friend.* What happened between the Trump family and the crypto industry is exactly that.

Then we met the smartest group of people we’ve ever encountered. We embraced the industry, understood it, and it became clear to everyone—me, you, them, all of us. I may now be one of the most passionate advocates for crypto in the world—and this from someone whose life has been defined by physical assets, like the very building we’re in now.

If you told me five, six, or seven years ago that I’d be this enthusiastic about digital assets, I’d have laughed. I really would have laughed at you. But now, nothing excites me more. I love what I do at American Bitcoin. I love what we’re doing at World Liberty Financial. I love our stablecoin initiatives. I love our work across the broader ecosystem. I’m incredibly proud of it all.

Childhood Memories with My Father

Bonnie: What’s your favorite childhood memory involving your father?

Eric Trump:

I loved walking construction sites with him. Watching New York’s most iconic buildings rise from the ground—seeing steel frames, concrete pours, and structural elements take shape. Those memories are unforgettable.

The New York union contractors were tough—but also among the world’s best builders. Those moments were incredible. And when I was younger, I used to build Lego skyscrapers on the floor of his office while he held high-stakes meetings. Being a silent observer, watching from the wall—those were priceless moments.

He’s an extraordinary man. He’s doing outstanding work for this country. He’s my best friend in the world. I’m immensely proud of him—truly, deeply proud.

Does Your Dad Say “I Love You”?

Bonnie: Do you say “I love you” to each other?

Eric Trump:

Constantly. He still calls me “Honey.” He says, “Honey, Honey.” I’m a 42-year-old man with gray in my beard, and he still calls me Honey. He even jokes about it: “My kids, no matter how old they get—even if they have kids of their own, they’ll always be my Honey.”

He’s an amazing person. I’m proud of everything he’s achieved. I’m proud of running our company. And I’m especially proud to be a leader in the digital asset race. I hope future generations remember that we helped drive momentum for this asset class.

Author: Compiled & Translated by DeepTide TechFlow

Source: DeepTide TechFlow