Potential conflicts around the globe for Trump, businessman president

[Jacque67 7,328]

The globe is dotted with such potential conflicts. Mr. Trumps companies have business operations in at least 20 countries, with a particular focus on the developing world, including outposts in nations like India, Indonesia and Uruguay, according to a New York Times analysis of his presidential campaign financial disclosures. Whats more, the true extent of Mr. Trumps global financial entanglements is unclear, since he has refused to release his tax returns and has not made public a list of his lenders.

In an interview with The Times on Tuesday, Mr. Trump boasted again about the global reach of his business and his familys ability to keep it running after he takes office.

Ive built a very great company and its a big company and its all over the world, Mr. Trump said, adding later: I dont care about my company. It doesnt matter. My kids run it.

In a written statement, his spokeswoman, Hope Hicks, said Mr. Trump and his family were committed to addressing any issues related to his financial holdings.

Vetting of various structures and immediate transfer of the business remains a top priority for both President-elect Trump, his adult children and his executives, she said.

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But a review by The Times of these business dealings identified a menu of the kinds of complications that could create a running source of controversy for Mr. Trump, as well as tensions between his priorities as president and the needs and objectives of his companies.

In Brazil, for example, the beachfront Trump Hotel Rio de Janeiro one of Mr. Trumps many branding deals, in which he does not have an equity stake is part of a broad investigation by a federal prosecutor who is examining whether illicit commissions and bribes resulted in apparent favoritism by two pension funds that invested in the project.

Several of Mr. Trumps real estate ventures in India where he has more projects underway than in any location outside North America are being built through companies with family ties to Indias most important political party. This makes it more likely that Indian government officials will do special favors benefiting Mr. Trumps projects, including pressuring state-owned banks to extend favorable loans.

In Ireland and Scotland, executives from Mr. Trumps golf courses have been waging two separate battles with local officials. The most recent centers on the Trump Organizations plans to build a flood-prevention sea wall at the course on the Irish coast. Some environmentalists say the wall could destroy an endangered snails habitat a dispute that will soon involve the president of the United States.

And in Turkey, officials including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a religiously conservative Muslim, demanded that Mr. Trumps name be removed from Trump Towers in Istanbul after he called for a ban on Muslims entering the United States. More recently, after Mr. Trump came to the defense of Mr. Erdogan suggesting that he had the right to crack down harshly on dissidents after a failed coup the calls for action against Trump Towers have stopped, fueling worries that Mr. Trumps policies toward Turkey might be shaped by his commercial interests.

Mr. Trump has acknowledged a conflict of interest in Turkey. I have a little conflict of interest because I have a major, major building in Istanbul, he said during a radio interview last year with Stephen K. Bannon, the Breitbart News executive who has since been designated his chief White House strategist. Its a tremendously successful job. Its called Trump Towers two towers, instead of one. Not the usual one. Its two.

These tangled ties already have some members of Congress including at least one Republican representative calling on Mr. Trump to provide more information on his international operations, or perhaps for a congressional inquiry into them.

You rightly criticized Hillary for Clinton Foundation, Representative Justin Amash, Republican of Michigan, said in a Twitter message on Monday. If you have contracts w/foreign govts, its certainly a big deal, too. #DrainTheSwamp

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/26/us/politics/donald-trump-international-business.html

[MarkPerry 488]

He is a Billionare with companies all over the world, he has worked his whole life to build his empire.

He is also President of the most powerful nation in the world

You can now see how modern politics was never geared to having a non politican as President.

All will be fine and dandy in the end.

[smilesammich 10,727]

awww. just let him do whatever he wants, he's the real deal.

[bcking 3,157]

He is a Billionare with companies all over the world, he has worked his whole life to build his empire.

He is also President of the most powerful nation in the world

You can now see how modern politics was never geared to having a non politican as President.

All will be fine and dandy in the end.

Just for clarity, which do you think:

1. He is able to separate being President from being a businessman and he won't (intentionally) profit in his business empire by being President

or

2. He will intentionally profit in his business empire because of decisions he makes as President and that is okay for a President to do as long as they also still act as a "good" President

Not saying there is a right answer, just curious what most Trump supporter's think. Is it that you aren't bothered if he makes some money by being President, or is it that you think he will keep it separate. Like do you think mentioning his new hotel in DC to foreign visitors is okay, as long as he is clear that it is okay if theydon't stay there?

[MarkPerry 488]

Just for clarity, which do you think:

1. He is able to separate being President from being a businessman and he won't (intentionally) profit in his business empire by being President

or

2. He will intentionally profit in his business empire because of decisions he makes as President and that is okay for a President to do as long as they also still act as a "good" President

Not saying there is a right answer, just curious what most Trump supporter's think. Is it that you aren't bothered if he makes some money by being President, or is it that you think he will keep it separate. Like do you think mentioning his new hotel in DC to foreign visitors is okay, as long as he is clear that it is okay if theydon't stay there?

It sure as heck isn't going to hurt his business him being President, He will profit just by name and being President of USA. This is like people buying Gucci, Michael Kors, etc they buy brand name for name. How he keeps his business and President separate that is yet to be seen, but I am sure he will get it taken care of.

[bcking 3,157]

It sure as heck isn't going to hurt his business him being President, He will profit just by name and being President of USA. This is like people buying Gucci, Michael Kors, etc they buy brand name for name. How he keeps his business and President separate that is yet to be seen, but I am sure he will get it taken care of.

Ya I was thinking like above the "name recognition". Like do you think he will be perfectly able to separate his choices as President with his life as a Business mogul. Or do you think they will intermix, but it's okay that they intermix a little.

Like my hotel example, or purchasing Trump wine for a party, or Trump steaks...oh wait no (too soon? just joking!). Those would be pretty big "conflicts", but are they really conflicts? Does it matter what wine you serve at a party? As long decisions as President aren't being influenced I'm not sure it really matters.

[MarkPerry 488]

Ya I was thinking like above the "name recognition". Like do you think he will be perfectly able to separate his choices as President with his life as a Business mogul. Or do you think they will intermix, but it's okay that they intermix a little.

Like my hotel example, or purchasing Trump wine for a party, or Trump steaks...oh wait no (too soon? just joking!). Those would be pretty big "conflicts", but are they really conflicts? Does it matter what wine you serve at a party? As long decisions as President aren't being influenced I'm not sure it really matters.

I sure they will go out way not to mix, But I think in general this will be a major boost to his business and especially anything with his name on it.

[bcking 3,157]

I sure they will go out way not to mix, But I think in general this will be a major boost to his business and especially anything with his name on it.

I think you are avoiding answering a little bit.

You think he will "go out of the way" not to mix. So do you think he will be 100% succesful in keeping them separate? Or do you think he will be "okay" but will still let it influence him a little bit but that is okay.

Just take Trump out of the scenario. Do you think it's okay for a President to "nudge" things to support his own business on the side (Talk about hotels he owns while in meeting with foreign leaders)? Or are you just convinced that Trump in particular won't do that.

If you think it's fine for any President that's cool. I'm just not sure what is special about Trump. If anything I feel like his history shows that he WON'T separate them. That has no bearing on how good of a President he will be. He may turn out to be a great one while still benefiting from it personally. I just think people are kidding themselves if they think Trump will be the perfect angel and not try to take advantage of the situation. He will take advantage, just hopefully not so much that it won't influence things negatively.

[MarkPerry 488]

I think you are avoiding answering a little bit.

You think he will "go out of the way" not to mix. So do you think he will be 100% succesful in keeping them separate? Or do you think he will be "okay" but will still let it influence him a little bit but that is okay.

Just take Trump out of the scenario. Do you think it's okay for a President to "nudge" things to support his own business on the side (Talk about hotels he owns while in meeting with foreign leaders)? Or are you just convinced that Trump in particular won't do that.

If you think it's fine for any President that's cool. I'm just not sure what is special about Trump. If anything I feel like his history shows that he WON'T separate them. That has no bearing on how good of a President he will be. He may turn out to be a great one while still benefiting from it personally. I just think people are kidding themselves if they think Trump will be the perfect angel and not try to take advantage of the situation. He will take advantage, just hopefully not so much that it won't influence things negatively.

I think he and his staff, will go out of his way not to mix them. That is my answer. I have no clue what he will talk about in a meeting, I am sure the other parties will be pretty well informed about what he owns and not owns. I don't think telling the certain people he owns a hotel will influence business. I think his business in general will get a giant bump, especially anything with his name on it. We all know Trump is not a perfect angel, I don't think anyone out there is. I am certain the US population thinks Hillary is a liar, and they see Trump as more truthful.

Edited November 28, 2016 by MarkPerry

[Amica Nostra 4,803]

If its good for the Trump brand how can it be bad for America?

[smilesammich 10,727]

sure would have been nice to have a direct answer to these insightful questions...

Do you think it's okay for a President to "nudge" things to support his own business on the side (Talk about hotels he owns while in meeting with foreign leaders)? Or are you just convinced that Trump in particular won't do that.

If its good for the Trump brand how can it be bad for America?

when did trump become synonymous with america? like i mean for you personally, when was your come to trump moment?

[bcking 3,157]

I think he and his staff, will go out of his way not to mix them. That is my answer. I have no clue what he will talk about in a meeting, I am sure the other parties will be pretty well informed about what he owns and not owns. I don't think telling the certain people he owns a hotel will influence business. I think his business in general will get a giant bump, especially anything with his name on it. We all know Trump is not a perfect angel, I don't think anyone out there is. I am certain the US population thinks Hillary is a liar, and they see Trump as more truthful.

Thanks for the clarity.

I also don't necessarily think it is bad for Trump to name drop himself and his businesses in conversation as long as it isn't like "Oh I really wish you would have stayed at the Trump Plaza...guess I won't sign that trade agreement". I also don't really have a problem with the white house using Trump suppliers for products, especially if they can "cut" a deal and save some money. Don't really think those things influence politics that much.

That being said, as you mentioned, none of us will actually "know" what he talks about in private meetings and how he acts with foreign leaders and representatives. Based on how he acts on television I could see him being pretty outspoken and biased about his products and may very well make people feel uncomfortable. However, he may get a lot of tutoring between now and then about how to conduct political business and hopefully he will learn.

EDIT: In case left-leaning people think I've abandoned them - I don't personally think Trump will be a very good President (compared to what I want a President to accomplish). However, I don't think the fact that he owns a large business will have anything to do with him being a bad President.

Edited November 28, 2016 by bcking

[eieio 1,594]

Wasn't it just a few weeks ago that Libs were saying Trump was a poor businessman and had very few assets?

Now he has properties around the world?

Man that guys gets stuff done fast.

Under budget,Ahead of schedule