You can 'enjoy coffee with Ivanka Trump' for a hefty price tag
The president-elect's son, Eric Trump, is auctioning off an opportunity to "enjoy coffee with Ivanka Trump in NYC or D.C.," with the proceeds going to his foundation, which benefits St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. But some observers and lawyers have raised concerns that the auction essentially allows people to earn access to the Trump administration in exchange for money, The New York Times reports.
"This is just wrong," said Fred Wertheimer, the president of Democracy 21, a nonprofit that tries to curb special interests' influences. "The president's family should not be out raising money for whatever cause, in exchange for a potential influence buyer who wants to get his views to the president." The concerns are magnified due to Ivanka Trump's impending role in the White House.
Currently, high bidders include a London-based investment manager hoping to learn more about Trump's future dealings in countries he invests in; the owner of a Houston-based Tex-Mex restaurant chain who wants to tell Trump, via his daughter, to go easy on restricting immigration; and a real estate executive and "fringe presidential candidate from Florida" who wants to talk about election fraud. Bids Friday morning were around $72,888.
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.
When the Times started asking questions for their article, though, Eric Trump said he was considering shutting down the auction. "We've done this every year," Trump said. "We utilized [auction website] Charitybuzz to raise significant funds. Every single year we've auctioned off a lunch with one of ourselves. It's nothing more than an effort to raise a lot of money in an effort to help sick children."
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
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
Melting polar ice is messing with global timekeeping
Speed Read Ice loss caused by climate change is slowing the Earth's rotation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Stick guitar
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
'Sports executives ushered a fox into the henhouse'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, 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
-
Feds cap credit card late fees at $8
speed read The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized a rule to save households an estimated $10 billion a year
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Immigration helped the US economy outpace peers
speed read The U.S. economy grew at an annualized rate of 3.2% last quarter
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
4-day workweek gets boost from UK study
Speed Read Following a six-month trial, the majority of participating British companies are still using the truncated schedule
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US sues to block Kroger-Albertsons merger
Speed Read The Federal Trade Commission sued to block the $24.6 billion merger between the grocery giants
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published