Question

On November 08, 2016 Donald John Trump was elected president of the United States. Mr. Trump asserts that he is a financially wealthy man and evidence available in the public domain reveals that he does have vast business and financial interests throughout the world. Prior and subsequent to his election Mr. Trump has been criticized by members of the general public as well as experts in the field of legal and business ethics for failure to divest himself of his vast business and financial ownership interests.

Now that Donald Trump is president of the United States, as a business law student, Miscellaneous Assignment #1 is to reduce to writing your thoughts on whether or not Mr. Trump’s business and financial interests represent a conflict of interest in terms of him executing his duties as president of the United States. If you believe that Mr. Trump is conflicted cite at least two examples where his business interests conflict with his ability to execute his presidential responsibilities. If you believe Mr. Trump is not conflicted state your reasons.

Using the internet and any other resources at your disposal, write a two page synopsis articulating your position in this matter. Cite your sources you rely in support of your position.

Answer 1

On November 8, 2016 Mr Donald Trump was elected as the President of the United States of America.
But prior to being elected as the President, Donald Trump was also the principal owner of approximately 500 Business organizations collective called the Trump Organization.
The Trump Organization primarily has interests in Real estate businesses, brokerage and own manage multiple hotels and resorts and undertake development of residential and official projects.

Now the First Potential conflict of interest that would come in any situation is that Mr Donald Trump could potentially use his power , position and influence as the President of the United States of Americal to chart policies that help his business group and directly have an impact of the bottomline and the net worth of the The Trump Organization.
As head of the executive line in USA, he has the influence and power to do it.

There are numerous known and reported instances in Public life where cases of conflict of interest between Trump's business and presidents position have been reported. A few of them are :

1. The trump organization has taken on lease the old post office building from the US Government's General Service Administration. Normally, during negotiation while the person from the General Service Administration would try to optimise the rent for the US Government's best interest the adverse would be best suited for the Trump Organization. Apparently as of now, the government gets headed by trump and Trump also has a long term interest in the Trump Organization. This is a position of direct conflict of Interest.

2. Trump Organization and Donald Trump had got into problems with the Taxman in the past. Using his position, Trump might take advantage of it and might close all the pending cases. At the same time, the tax authorities might have to think twice before opening the files of the Trump Organization.

Having said the above, Donald Trump has publicly declared that he will not be taking part into the day to day affairs of the Trump organization after he became the President of the United States of America. Also he has passed of his interest in a revocable trust.

However,inspite of same he continues to have long term interest into the future of the trump organization which puts him in a conflict of interest with his presidential duties theoritically at many scenerios. However, till now Mr Donald Trump has shown that he is prioritising his presidential duties first and acts in an unbiased manner. The duty to dispel any doubts that any of his decisions are effected by conflict of interest depends upon him and he has done a very good job of ensuring that such issues are avoided till now.