Trump's Family Business: A Clash of Interests or Just Smart Strategy?

President Trump recently shared his thoughts on his family's international business dealings, asserting that he sees no issue with these ventures despite concerns about potential conflicts of interest.

Scaling Back Business in First Term

Trump highlighted that during his first term, his family scaled back on international business to address concerns, but he felt this went unappreciated.

"I stopped them from doing business in my first term, and I got no credit for it. I didn't have to do that. And it's really unfair to them."

Presidential Salary and Commitment

Trump also mentioned that he has never taken his presidential salary, which he sees as a sign of his commitment to the country. He compared his situation to George Washington, who also conducted business while in office, though Trump himself has not done so.

Family's Business Activities

The president's family, particularly his sons Donald Jr. and Eric, and son-in-law Jared Kushner, have been active in negotiating deals with foreign governments. These deals have sparked questions about how they might influence U.S. diplomatic priorities. For instance, foreign leaders have shown a lot of flexibility to accommodate the Trump family's real estate projects. In Serbia, this even led to corruption charges against former officials involved in approving a Trump family development, which has since been canceled.

Support for Cryptocurrency Industry

Trump also defended his support for the cryptocurrency industry, where his family has become significant players. He believes his backing of crypto helped him gain votes and sees it as a way to position the U.S. as a global leader in the field.

"China wanted it, and one of us was going to get it."

White House's Stance

The White House maintains that Trump and his family do not engage in conflicts of interest and always prioritize the interests of Americans. However, the president's recent comments and his family's business activities continue to fuel debates about the intersection of personal business and public service.