President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump have recently made headlines for their new ventures that are raising alarms among ethics watchdogs. Just days before Trump took office, meme coins were released, and a pre-inaugural party was held at a property owned by his company. Additionally, a Saudi-backed golf tournament is scheduled to take place at a Trump club this spring.
Ethics watchdogs have criticized Trump's actions, stating that he appears poised to financially benefit from his final term in office in new and lucrative ways. Concerns have been raised about potential conflicts of interest and violations of ethics standards.
During his first term, Trump faced criticism for not fully addressing his financial conflicts. While he pledged to address these issues, he chose not to divest his interests in his branding and real estate empire. In his second term, Trump's ethics plan remains similar, with the notable difference that his son, Eric Trump, has stated that the Trump Organization will continue to pursue deals with overseas interests.
One of the key concerns is the potential violation of the foreign Emoluments Clause of the US Constitution, which prohibits federal officeholders from accepting gifts or benefits from foreign entities without congressional approval. Trump's involvement in launching new businesses, such as meme coins, while in office has raised further ethical questions.
While the federal conflict of interest law does not apply to the president, past presidents have taken voluntary steps to avoid conflicts of interest. Trump's business activities and potential foreign influences have sparked concerns among ethics experts.
Meanwhile, Melania Trump has entered into a deal with Amazon to license and distribute a documentary about herself. The timing of this deal, along with Trump's business activities, has raised questions about potential conflicts of interest and ethical considerations.
As the Trumps navigate their post-presidential ventures, the spotlight remains on their business dealings and the potential implications for ethics and governance.
