Donald Trump: Only the 'crooked media' is making a 'big deal' about possible conflicts of interest
If only the pesky press would leave him alone, Donald Trump is sure no one else would care about possible conflicts of interest with his business.
"Prior to the election it was well known that I have interests in properties all over the world," Trump tweeted Monday night. "Only the crooked media makes this a big deal!" Earlier in the day, Kellyanne Conway, his campaign manager, told reporters she is "very confident" that since the election, Trump has not broken any laws with his business practices. "He has many lawyers, accountants, and advisers who tell him what he must do and what he can't do," she said. "He's a businessman; he is also working to transition." Conway added that we are in "unprecedented times."
There have been several reports of eyebrow-raising activity, including Trump, during a congratulatory call from Argentine President Mauricio Macri, allegedly asking him to handle permitting issues that are slowing down a project Trump is involved with in Buenos Aires (both Trump and Macri have denied they discussed personal business during the call). Last week, Trump was visited by three Indian business partners who are working on a project near Mumbai emblazoned with Trump's name, and his daughter, Ivanka Trump, and her husband, Jared Kushner, attended a meeting between Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Ivanka Trump, as well as her brothers Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, are part of their father's transition team, and are also going to take over his private business after Trump's inauguration.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Although Trump has said he will put his organization into a blind trust, "turning the business over to the kids will free up his time but it does nothing to resolve conflicts of interest," Kenneth Gross, an ethics and political law expert who has advised several presidents, told CNBC. "A creator of a blind trust is tagged with the knowledge of the assets put into the trust, and in terms of conflicts his children's interests are co-extensive with his self-interest." The editorial board of the New York Post, which endorsed Trump during the Republican primary, is calling on Trump to find someone else to run his company, since a blind trust "run by his children won't pass the sniff test. After all, if the election had gone the other way, we'd right now be furiously denouncing the idea of letting Chelsea run the Clinton Foundation."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Post Office's Capture software to be reviewed over 'glitches'
Speed Read Solicitor representing accused postmasters says flaws in the IT system follow 'very similar pattern' to Horizon
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
How would we know if World War Three had started?
Today's Big Question Conflicts in Ukraine, Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific mean the 'spark' that could ignite all-out war 'already exists'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Death Cafe: where people talk mortality over tea and cake
Why everyone's talking about The meet-ups are intended to offer a judgement-free and respectful space to discuss the end of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Post Office's Capture software to be reviewed over 'glitches'
Speed Read Solicitor representing accused postmasters says flaws in the IT system follow 'very similar pattern' to Horizon
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Empty-nest boomers aren't selling their big homes
Speed Read Most Americans 60 and older do not intend to move, according to a recent survey
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Brazil accuses Musk of 'disinformation campaign'
Speed Read A Brazilian Supreme Court judge has opened an inquiry into Elon Musk and X
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Disney board fends off Peltz infiltration bid
Speed Read Disney CEO Bob Iger has defeated activist investor Nelson Peltz in a contentious proxy battle
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Disney and DeSantis reach detente
Speed Read The Florida governor and Disney settle a yearslong litigation over control of the tourism district
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Visa and Mastercard agree to lower swipe fees
Speed Read The companies will cap the fees they charge businesses when customers use their credit cards
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Reddit IPO values social media site at $6.4 billion
Speed Read The company makes its public debut on the New York Stock Exchange
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Housing costs: the root of US economic malaise?
speed read Many voters are troubled by the housing affordability crisis
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published