Businessman Donald Trump’s election as the President of United States (US) has created an unprecedented situation in the country’s politics.
Amidst concerns about Trump’s businesses posing possible conflict of interests during his time in the White House, he said on 30 November that he’ll be “leaving his business in order to fully focus on running the country” and will announce his plans for the Trump organisation on 15 December.
But the press conference where he was supposed to make clear his plans stands cancelled, according to Bloomberg Politics. Officials from Trump’s campaign told Bloomberg that Trump has been busy picking his cabinet and needs more time.
Interestingly, Trump hasn’t held a single press conference since his election where he will have to face difficult questions about his plans before the Electoral College casts its votes to technically make him president on 19 December.
Trump Says ‘No Deals’ While in Office; Makes His Sons In-Charge
On Monday, Trump in a series of tweets said that he will hold a press conference “in the near future” to discuss business and announced that his sons, Don and Eric, will manage his businesses. And added that he will make “no new deals” while in office.
However, making “no new deals” and appointing his sons to run the businesses does not iron out the conflict of interests the situation poses.
Ethics experts aren’t worried about how his businesses’ future deals will pan out but how the pre-existing ones may profit from his presidency. Diplomats have rushed to book rooms and hold events at Trump’s newly opened hotel in Washington, DC, reports Vox. The conflict of interest is that the president shouldn’t know where his business interests lie so that it doesn’t affect policies, but handing over the companies to his children does nothing to mitigate those concerns.
Trump Risks Blame for an Attack If He Skips Briefings: Ex-CIA Chief
Donald Trump has been missing important intelligence briefings since he won the presidential election.
Former CIA director Leon Panetta said on Wednesday that the President-elect risked being blamed for any potential attack on the United States if he refused to receive more regular intelligence briefings.
US officials told Reuters that Trump is receiving an average of one presidential intelligence briefing a week – far fewer than most of his recent predecessors.
If we endure another attack and the intelligence officials had indications or information regarding that attack and the president did not want to listen to that, for whatever reason, the responsibility for that attack would fall on the president.Leon Panetta, Former CIA Director
Trump had earlier said that he found the intelligence briefings ‘repetitive’ and that he already understood potential threats.
You know, I’m a smart person. I don’t have to be told the same things in the same words every single day for the next eight years.Donald Trump
(With inputs from Bloomberg Politics, Vox and Reuters)
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