Day 1,129: Is Trump’s upcoming visit to India for the U.S.’s benefit or his own?
Upon taking office, breaking over two centuries of precedence, Donald Trump never divested from his businesses. That decision has spiraled into, literally, thousands of conflicts of interest. For instance, he has routinely funneled cash into his businesses from the Oval Office, either at Mar-a-Lago, his hotels, or otherwise. His kids have received benefits from foreign nations with little explanation beyond patently political reasons.
Now, Trump is set to head to India, the Trump Organization’s largest foreign market. Whether Trump is going for Americans’ benefit or his own is a bit of a murky question.
The White House hopes the visit will advance trade talks and bolster the president’s standing with Indian-Americans ahead of the 2020 election. But it’s also a trip that will create attention that could help Trump-branded properties amid a slumping real estate market and slowing economy in India.
Already, in the days leading up to the trip, some Indian media outlets have referenced the Trump properties in their coverage, with one even suggesting the president chose his speaking location because of his longstanding ties to realtors in the region.
And nowhere are the lines more blurred between Trump the statesman and Trump the salesman than in India — a nation that boasts the distinction of being both the globe’s largest democracy and the Trump Organization’s largest foreign market. For three years, Trump’s White House has worked with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on trade and a multi-billion weapons sale. And for three years, Trump’s company has worked to promote its four developments in India that have earned Trump millions of dollars in royalties.
Trump’s finances remain extraordinarily shady, as he hides his exact financial relationship with India and other nations.
After winning the election in 2016, Trump ignored calls to fully separate from his company, which comprises more than 500 businesses, a step past presidents have taken. He still owns his business but placed his holdings in a trust designed to maintain assets for his benefit. Trump, who donates his presidential salary to support federal agencies, can withdraw money from the trust at any point without the public’s knowledge.
His decision to link his private business interests with America’s highest public office in an unprecedented way has led to a vast web of potential conflicts of interest, allegations he is using the office to enrich himself and accusations he makes foreign policy decisions based on his businesses.
Trump is profiteering from the presidency in front of the nation’s eyes. Now he’s traveling halfway across the world on the taxpayers’ dime, and there’s no way to know whether he’s going to advance U.S. interests or his own.
1,129 days in, 333 to go
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