Golden watches and sneakers: Trump's new merchandise raises questions
Golden watches and sneakers: Trump's new merchandise raises questions
In the two months since the election, the designated President Donald Trump called on his almost 8.5 million followers on Truth Social to buy limited guitars with his signature and Trump themed fragrances that represent "winners". A $ 899 expensive, gold -plated inauguration model was recently added to his watch line, which he launched this summer. His newly founded sneaker brand now also offers shoes with a nationwide map of his election victory.
Trump's business interests and political ambitions
The sales initiatives after the election show how tight Trump's personal business practices are interwoven with his political career. However, less than two weeks before his notice of office, the Republican billionaire and the public trump organization did not provide detailed information on how to intend to separate their diverse interests-from hotels, golf clubs and license contracts to a new cryptocurrency company-from his office as president.
Questions of trust and ethical concerns
So far, Trump has transferred his shares in the parent company of Truth Social to a long -term trust fund, the sole of which he is, as can be seen from current documents in Securities and Exchange Commission. His eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., is the trustee. However, ethics experts believe that these steps are by no means with the blind trust funds and sales of business interests that other presidents have used to avoid ethical conflicts.growth of the Trump organization
There are signs that the Trump organization will impose fewer restrictions on its activities this time than in the first four years of Trump's presidency. His son Eric Trump, who heads the company in day -to -day business, has declared that the company would continue to pursue business opportunities abroad, and the self -imposed prohibition wanted to take over foreign business from its first term.
monetization of the presidency
The marketing activities around Trump's return to the White House "clearly show that there is a focus on monetization of the presidency," said Kedric Payne, Senior Director for Ethics at Campaign Legal Center. "The concern is that he will now use the position of president to give himself and his family an advantage that goes beyond what is imaginable."
Trump's plano to avoid conflicts of interest
Since Trump will not compete again as a presidential candidate, there is little incentive for him to create new protective measures against potential self -interests. "His supporters are aware of the conflict" and do not consider this to be disqualifying, added Payne.
statement by Trump's press spokeswoman
In a statement, Trump's press officer Karoline Leavitt said that the future president had not entered politics "to profit" and referred to his decision not to lead his company during his first term and to donate his annual salary of $ 400,000.
unclear boundaries between politics and business
The mixing of Trump's political ambitions and the extensive business entrepreneurs of his family was visible in Mar-A-Lago on Tuesday. While a cold morning wind moved through the terrace of the property, Eric Trump met Hussain Sajwani, the billion -dollar developer from the United Arab Emirates, who built the Trump International Golf Club in Dubai. Shortly afterwards, the former president performed together with Sajwani and announced that this Emirati-Tycoon wanted to invest at least $ 20 billion in the development of US data centers.
risks and opportunities
President are excluded from the criminal and civil law conflict of interest that apply to other government officials, but former presidents have taken measures to also avoid the appearance of a personal advantage from their official position. After winning the presidency in 2016, Trump took public measures to remedy ethical concerns by transferring his business sharing to a trust fund. But ethics guards criticized his decision to remain the owner of the company, which was led by his adult sons and a long -time managing director during his tenure.
Trump's new business and the question of transparency
However, there is little public information about Trump's new business deals. Some of his business partners are hidden from non -transparent companies. Trump has not yet undertaken to announce more details about his new business partners, and he has indicated whether he will continue to sell Trump-Them Mer Chandise as soon as he is sworn in later this month. However, the Trump organization uses the milestone that its return to the White House represents. In the Trump Store, polo shirts, glasses, cups and other souvenirs are sold, which are provided with the numbers "45" and "47", which mark their positions in the series of US presidents.
David Goldman from CNN contributed to this report.
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