Trump’s new businesses — and new potential conflicts of interest
Dec 17, 2024
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Jonathan O’Connell, an investigative reporter for The Washington Post, dives into Trump's latest business ventures, including Truth Social and World Liberty Financial. He uncovers how these enterprises could lead to unprecedented conflicts of interest as Trump navigates regulations in a potential second term. O’Connell also discusses the Emoluments Clause and its implications for Trump's actions, shedding light on public sentiment towards his financial landscape and ethical standards. The conversation provides a compelling look at how personal investments may intertwine with presidential responsibilities.
Trump's new ventures in cryptocurrency and social media signal both his evolving business interests and potential regulatory conflicts during a possible second term.
The history of ethical controversies in Trump's previous administration raises concerns about navigating conflicts of interest in his return to power.
Deep dives
Trump's Commitment to the Crypto Industry
Donald Trump positions himself as a supporter of the cryptocurrency industry, emphasizing its significance for the U.S. economy in light of competition from countries like China. He has recently launched a cryptocurrency venture named World Liberty Financial, signaling his transition from skepticism to active involvement in crypto. Trump remarks that the U.S. needs to engage with cryptocurrency or risk falling behind other nations, highlighting the urgency he associates with the technology. His declaration to become a pro-Bitcoin president underscores his intent to drive the industry's growth domestically.
Potential Conflicts of Interest
Trump's involvement in major businesses, including social media and cryptocurrency, raises significant questions about conflicts of interest should he return to the presidency. Ethical concerns are amplified by the absence of stringent conflict of interest rules applicable to the president, allowing him to potentially shape regulations that could benefit his own financial interests. As the owner of Truth Social, Trump's regulatory decisions could directly impact the viability of his platform in the competitive social media landscape. This situation highlights the precarious balance between his public duties and private financial interests in the event of another term.
Drawing from Historical Precedents
Historically, Trump's previous administration was marked by controversies related to his business interests that raised ethical questions, including during the 2016 election and his time in office. While he had taken steps to distance himself from his businesses by placing assets into a trust managed by his sons, the effectiveness of these measures was often questioned and led to ongoing litigation. Experiences from this past tenure suggest that the public's perception of his conflicts could influence his behavior and business dealings in a potential second term. Observers remain skeptical about how he will navigate these ethical challenges, with indications that he intends to prioritize his personal financial interests despite claims to the contrary.
Since he last held office, President-elect Donald Trump’s business interests have evolved. The real estate mogul launched the social media company Truth Social, and — in the height of this year’s presidential campaign — he announced a cryptocurrency venture, World Liberty Financial.
Both of these industries could be targeted with efforts at regulation during Trump’s second term. So what could it mean for Trump to oversee an administration that also plays a role in these regulations? This dynamic sets up what ethics experts have described as unprecedented potential conflicts of interest for his second term.
“Post Reports” host Elahe Izadi speaks with investigative reporter Jonathan O’Connell about how Trump became involved in these new businesses, what potential conflicts of interest they present, and what we might learn from how Trump approached potential conflicts in his first term.
Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff with help from Ariel Plotnick. It was edited by Alison MacAdam and Reena Flores and mixed by Sam Bair.