Ingo Hoehler Former President Donald Trump has the business spoils of being President – to Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. Now, he is immersing himself in political life again, as the former president of the United States. In a new deal that he has negotiated, it is essentially a reboot of his first term from 2017-2021. This approach allows him to distance himself from the Trump Organization’s daily workings while retaining tight political control over the sprawling business empire.
As outlined by the Trump Organization, Donald Trump will not be involved in the day-to-day decision-making. The decision comes as he faces increased scrutiny of his business interests after several weeks of complaints that he is monetizing the presidency. Ethics experts have previously criticized Trump’s past arrangements, arguing they did not adequately prevent conflicts of interest between his official duties and business dealings.
Trump’s globalized real estate empire is much larger than we often consider. In the month of March alone, he opened a new golf club in Indonesia which was created with the help of local firm. The Trump Organization’s website lists another property and a resort in Bali as “coming soon,” highlighting the company’s aggressive growth strategy in the region.
At a recent climate change summit in Egypt, Donald Trump addressed world leaders. He went on to boastfully proclaim that “peace in the Middle East” was accomplished on his watch. After his comments, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto allegedly yelled at Trump to negotiate as the two met in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh. Even better, Subianto indicated his preference to meet Eric Trump.
“I’ll have Eric call. Should I do that? He’s such a good boy. I’ll have Eric call.” – Donald Trump
This alarming exchange shows how Trump’s political and business interests continue to be murkily intertwined, increasing the likelihood of conflicts even more. Donald’s two oldest sons, Eric and Donald Jr., serve as executive vice-presidents of the Trump Organization. This often puts their family life and personal relationships in direct conflict with their business management.
Even the former president is entering a new phase of his life. At the same time, questions continue to be raised about the ethics of his business dealings, and how those interactions could influence his political aspirations. Critics remain vigilant, monitoring whether Trump’s arrangements will effectively mitigate potential conflicts of interest as he continues to build his brand internationally.