The Shameful use of the office of the President to make a buck
When Trump got elected he did not divest of his business interests or set up a blind trust as presidents before him have. Instead he turned things “over” to his his children with whom he is in frequency contact. His name is still atop his hotels and resorts. Almost every member of his family has a business interest they continue to promote often using the presidency to get free press or garner some level of prestige. Although unethical, buying Trump products are a way to pass money to the president and his family legally in hopes of some favor down the road.
Conflict of Interest
Trump has not just crossed the line in blurring his business with his presidency but he has repeated abused his privileged position. Some examples include going to his gold resorts around the world. These trip are expensive, require extra security efforts, but most outrageous is they promote his resorts at the tax payer expense.
The Golf Resort Example
The Golfnewsnet reports that since taking office on Jan. 20, 2017, Mr. Trump has reportedly been on the grounds of his golf courses or played golf elsewhere 193 times and that’s as of June 2, 2019. Most recently, he visited his resort in Ireland while on travel to visit the UK and partake in D-Day memorials. The resort tweeted video of the President playing golf to advertise their facility.
Pass the Presidential Conflicts of Interest Act of 2017
This is just one example of Trump and his family using their position to promote their businessmen and fatten their pockets. Unfortunately, current conflict of interest laws do not extend to the President and Vice President due to an outdated fear of interfering with their Article II constitutional powers.
While conflicts of interest are not unique to the 21st century, the 2016 election brought about unprecedented conflicts. President Donald Trump was the first President in decades to refuse to remove notions of financial conflicts of interest. Trump’s acquisitions abroad have led to accusations of bias and bribery along with the fear that U.S. foreign policy will be influenced by his self-interest (Harvard DOL).
The Presidential Conflicts of Interest Act of 2017 is a bill introduced by Democrat Senator Elizabeth Warren to the United States Senate on January 9, 2017 addresses these issues (Congress). The bill requires that The President, the Vice President, the spouse of the President or Vice President, and any minor child of the President or Vice President divest any financial interest posing a potential conflict of interest by transferring such interest to a qualified blind trust. The bill is currently stuck in Committee. In the mean time, Trump keeps on getting a free pass to “go” and is collecting billions.