Trump still doesn't understand why he should avoid conflicts of interest

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Editor's Note: Dean Obeidallah, an ex-lawyer, is the host of the daily SiriusXM radio show “The Dean Obeidallah Show” and columnist for The Daily Beast. Follow him on @DeanObeidallah. The opinions expressed in the following article are those of the author.

(CNN) - President Donald Trump abruptly reversed the course on Saturday and announced that the 2020 G7 summit would not take place at his Trump National resort in Doral, Florida, after all. The 180-degree turn came after an onslaught of withering criticism, even from Trump's most loyal fans like Geraldo Rivera, who said the decision "is a mockery of the Constitution."

Now, before anyone applauds Trump's reversal as a sign that he finally understands that it is wrong to take advantage of being in the White House, look at the reasons he gave to change headquarters. It is clear that the president was not worried in the least about the obvious conflict of interest. Instead, it would seem that he was simply tired of defending his choice. And by pointing to the Democrats and the media as scapegoats, Trump managed to disregard everything and strengthen his voter base in the process.

Simply see Trump's explanation on Twitter. Did Trump say he wanted to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest? Of course not. Instead, Trump practically provided a commercial advertisement for his resort with a golf course, writing: “It is large, majestic, on hundreds of acres, next to the MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, has wonderful ballrooms and meeting rooms, and each delegation would have its building of 50 to 70 units ”.

• Trump reverses course and says his Florida resort will not be used for the G7 summit

Trump then defended his election by adding that he was willing to celebrate the “NO GAIN” event. Of course, as the independent Politifact.com noted, being the host of the G7 summit, which attracts seven world leaders along with hundreds of diplomats, journalists and security personnel would benefit Trump in two ways. First, it would fill the hotel in June, which is the low season in Florida. Even if the rooms were offered “at cost”, the investment of the guests in the center would be a large sum and would reduce the structure costs. And, on the other hand, it would provide an incalculable amount of free worldwide publicity to the entire Trump golf center.

On Twitter, Trump cited the "Unreasonable and Irrational Hostility" of the media and the Democrats - two of his favorite goals - to force him to consider other locations, such as the government property Camp David, which is the place where President Obama conducted the G7 in 2012.

Speaking of Obama, imagine if you owned a hotel chain and would like to organize an official government event on your property. Trump would be leading the charge by criticizing him and requesting his political judgment.

But none of this surprises us considering how Trump has given warning signs about possible conflicts of interest.

While Trump has placed his business assets in a trust that is controlled by his family and a close associate, he remains the exclusive beneficiary, and still benefits from the profits earned from his properties.

His son Eric Trump has said that he informs his father about the financial affairs of the Trump Organization, and it is very likely that Trump is aware of foreign officials and interest groups that, among others, stay at their properties or host events there. .

House of Representatives investigators are looking at allegations that a trade association and a foreign government reserved a large number of rooms on Trump's properties and used only a fraction, according to Politico. Rep. Gerry Connolly - Virginia Democrat - said. “Now we are seeing practically a bribe. That was the risk from day one: foreign governments and others seeking support because we know that Trump pays attention to this. It is an obvious attempt to ingratiate himself with him. ”

• Does Trump really avoid conflicts of interest in his business?

Representatives of at least 22 foreign governments appear to have spent money on the properties of the Trump Organization, according to an analysis by NBC in June. Trump promised to donate any profits from foreign governments to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and the Trump Organization has donated US $ 343,000 in 2017 and 2018, although it is not clear if that is the total sum.

In March 2018, the American Petroleum Institute, the main pressure group of the oil industry, held a two-day meeting of its board of directors at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, prior to executives heading to the House Blanca to meet with Trump midway through the conference, Politico reported.

Kuwait also moved its annual national day event, from the Four Seasons hotel to the Trump hotel in Washington, after Trump was elected. While the Kuwaiti ambassador denied that the event was moved to improve relations between the two nations, ethics expert Norm Eisen said it was a violation of the Constitution's emoluments clause, which prohibits presidents from accepting gifts or benefits from A foreign government President Kellyanne Conway's advisor attended the Kuwaiti festivities, which gives more strength to the argument that money spent on the president's property could facilitate access to US officials, but Trump himself.

And then there are costs - paid by taxpayers - when Trump is staying at his own properties (he has spent more than 300 days of his presidency visiting at least one of his properties, according to The New York Times). For example, the Secret Service has allegedly allocated more than US $ 95,000 to rent golf carts on Trump's golf course between May and October this year for a total of US $ 500,000 in golf carts only since Trump took office. position.

One way to reduce the likelihood of Trump taking advantage of his office is for congressional Republicans to join the Democrats to pass a bill that prohibits taxpayer funds from being spent on Trump properties. But given the cowardice that Republicans have shown when it comes to dealing with Trump, they are unlikely to adopt that bill. The result could be that, while Trump will no longer hold the G7 summit at his golf resort, there is no end in sight for his use of the Oval Lounge for his own benefit.

Donald Trump