Former President Donald Trump is currently on a significant diplomatic trip to the Gulf states, where he is meeting with key leaders and securing extensive financial deals. In a single visit, he’s reportedly signed deals on the order of trillions of dollars, further lining his family’s already-bursting coffers. While the trip has been under fire for months because of its enormous cost, Trump’s private business dealings bleeding into his political engagements have raised serious ethical conflicts that, though troubling, weren’t ever this clear-cut.
During the trip, Trump was given a VIP Boeing 747-8 worth $400 million from Qatar. He even proposed that this aircraft be used to replace Air Force One if he were to regain the White House. Yet Qatar’s gesture has met with angry condemnation from all quarters. Democrats have rightly demonized the plane—aptly dubbed a “flying palace.” Opponents contend that through his acceptance of these extravagant gifts, Trump is proving that he does not truly support the anti-establishment idea of putting America first.
His family wealth has doubled by more than $3 billion since leaving office. This unprecedented spike makes his job of diplomacy that much harder. His financial interests reach deep into the cryptocurrency market and other investment ventures. A classic example would be a China-linked meme coin firm that generated no revenue last year buying up $300 million of a Trump meme coin. Besides that, a sovereign wealth fund largely controlled by the UAE has put $2 billion into a Trump-connected stablecoin.
The commingled nature of Trump’s private business and U.S. government affairs has raised a firestorm of critique. Many of the foremost experts on this issue believe these moves will lead to foreign dark money flooding into American politics. Scott Amey, an expert on government ethics, stated, “The status quo has been saying no, because it’s an actual and apparent conflict of interest, and it could jeopardize our domestic and foreign policies.” He added, “It certainly doesn’t pass the sniff test for a lot of Americans.”
Despite these criticisms, Trump doubled down on his acceptance of the Qatar plane. And he labeled it a ‘great gesture.’ He went on to say that it would be “stupid” not to take advantage of such a generous gift. Some have speculated that this position has influenced Trump to take certain actions. Do they truly match up with his original campaign pledges to put Americans first, not profits—or his own self enrichment?
Rather, critics have rightly zeroed-in on the implications of Trump being open to taking what he considers to be bribes for his own self-interest. Norm Eisen, a former White House ethics czar, commented on the competitive nature of these foreign gifts: “Of course you’re going to see Qatar and UAE as like a bidding war.” He elaborated on how the situation reflects negatively on U.S. diplomacy, suggesting that “the impression is given that the position of the United States can be swayed and even bought.”
The stakes Trump’s counsel are raising expand beyond personal enrichment. National experts have cautioned that the deals themselves threaten U.S. national security. Even more troubling, Richard Painter, the chief ethics lawyer under George W. Bush, expressed alarmingly serious concerns. He cautioned that foreign gifts could turn negotiations. “When we’re negotiating with other countries, the concern is that our negotiating position will change if someone does a favor or delivers a gift to the president of the United States,” he explained.
Here’s why some experts say accepting gifts this way wouldn’t necessarily break the law. This extends to the emoluments clause, even with all the hullabaloo about that topic. They stress the importance of a clear and open process so that even the appearance of impropriety is avoided. Rufus Gifford remarked on the broader implications of Trump’s actions: “It is very, very disturbing that a president of the United States could be in a position to profit off the office in which he holds.” He labelled the situation as “annoying and kind of dumb.” He underscored its importance in the fight that separates ethical government from corruption.
In addition to receiving gifts, Trump was honored with the Order of Zayed from the president of the UAE during this trip. This honor makes his appearance of neutrality and propriety all the more difficult to stomach in his dealings with foreign leaders.
Despite their conspicuous failures, Trump’s family and advisers continue to push Gulf state interests. At the same time, dozens of other business friends have secured billions in contracts directly connected to Trump, leading to lucrative contracts abroad. The intersection of personal wealth and political duty continues to ignite debate regarding Trump’s suitability as a leader who prioritizes American interests.
Chris Murphy, a U.S. Senator from Connecticut, encapsulated the sentiments of many critics when he stated, “This isn’t America first. This is not what he promised the American people. This is Trump first.” Such remarks further emphasize increasing doubts about Trump’s capacity to operate effectively in his new, highly sensitive role without harming our national interests.