Did Trump Profit From the $TRUMP Meme Coin?

NBC's Kristen Welker confronted President Donald Trump about whether he is profiting

In a portion of their extended Meet the Press interview being posted exclusively online, NBC's Kristen Welker pressed President Donald Trump on reports that he's profiting personally from a Trump meme coin.

The coin, which is named after the former president, has surged in recent months—especially after Trump agreed to host a private dinner with the top 220 holders of the coin. Following the announcement, the coin's value went as high as $14.32, a 58% increase from its previous low. (It currently trades at just under $11.)

A left-leaning advocacy group called State Democracy Defenders Action estimated Trump's crypto holdings to be worth approximately $2.9 billion. And ethics watchdogs were up in arms about the dinner announcement—with numerous Democratic senators demanding a probe into what they allege is a "pay to play" scheme.

"What do you say to those who … worry you're profoping from the presidency?" Welker asked Trump.

"I'm not profiting from anything," Trump replied. "All I'm doing is, I started this long before the election. I want crypto. I think crypto's important because if we don't do it, China's going to. And it's new, it's very popular, it's very hot. If you look at the market, when the market went down, that stayed much stronger than other aspects of the market. But I want crypto because a lot of people, you know, millions of people want it."

Asked by Welker whether he's cashing in on the meme coin, Trump replied: "I haven't even looked."

"So you're not profiting off of the cryptocurrency at all?" Welker pressed.

"No. I never thought of that," Trump said. "I mean, should I contribute all of my real estate that I've owned for many years if it goes up a little bit because I'm president and doing a good job? I don't think so."

As for whether he'd surrender any crypto cash to the government, Trump said he'd consider it.

"I never thought of that," Trump said. "I mean, should I contribute all of my real estate that I've owned for many years if it goes up a little bit because I'm president and doing a good job? I don't think so."

Watch above, via NBC.