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Trump company strikes Qatari golf resort deal in a sign it's not holding back from foreign business

ABC News's profile
ABC News
23h ago

The Trump Organization has entered into a new deal to develop a luxury golf resort in Qatar, marking its first foreign venture since Donald Trump took office, and signaling a continuation of international business endeavors despite potential ethical concerns. This development involves partnerships with Qatari Diar, owned by the Qatari government, and Dar Global, a Saudi Arabian company, which has raised alarm over potential conflicts of interest due to Trump's past ethical pledges and his close ties to Saudi Arabia. Critics, including ethics watchdogs, argue that such deals could allow foreign influence on U.S. policy for personal financial gain, a concern heightened by Trump's historical interactions with Saudi Arabia and the alleged role of its crown prince in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Despite previous controversies and lawsuits concerning the emoluments clause, the Trump Organization is moving forward with international projects, including ventures in Vietnam and other regions, with little resistance from Republican members of Congress. Additionally, Trump's business interests extend beyond real estate, including stakes in social media and cryptocurrency platforms, raising further questions about the intersection of his political influence and personal financial interests.

Trump company strikes Qatari golf resort deal in a sign it's not holding back from foreign business

The Trump Organization has secured a deal with Qatari Diar and Dar Global to develop a luxury golf resort in Qatar, despite past pledges to avoid foreign deals while Trump was in office to minimize conflicts of interest.

The Qatari deal is particularly controversial due to its potential violation of the Trump Organization's own ethics pledge not to engage in foreign government-linked transactions, stirring criticism from ethics watchdogs like Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.

Trump's connections with Saudi Arabia, especially his rapport with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, have drawn scrutiny, particularly after the U.S. intelligence community implicated the prince in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, raising concerns about Trump's foreign policy motivations.

Previous foreign deals by the Trump Organization, such as a golf resort in Vietnam, coupled with domestic ventures, have sparked ethical debates, yet have mostly gone unchallenged by Republican leaders in Congress.

The Trump family's business interests extend to platforms like Truth Social and World Liberty Financial, where Trump's influence as a former president could potentially drive financial benefits, highlighting ongoing concerns about conflicts of interest.

Despite selling the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., the family continues to pursue international business opportunities that could be perceived as pay-to-play scenarios, reminiscent of past controversies during Trump's presidency.

Lawsuits alleging violations of the emoluments clause were dismissed post-presidency, but the concerns about Trump's financial dealings influencing his political actions remain, particularly with ongoing international business engagements.

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