US President-elect Donald Trump’s sprawling properties and businesses (stretched over 27 countries) are enough to make one expect a conflict of interest in the policy he formulates as President.
And why not?
As feared, days after his win, in the thick of transition talks, Trump met three real estate developers from India – Atul Chordia and Sagar Chordia from Panchil builders and Kalpesh Mehta, all of whom are constructing luxury apartments under the Trump brand.
Quoting one of the three men, The Economic Times reported that "future business was discussed" in a meeting that took place on 15 November – although Trump’s spokesperson said it was only a congratulatory meeting.
Pune's Trump Towers are reportedly priced between Rs 23,000 and Rs 25,000 per square feet and the President-elect has five such real estate projects in total in Pune, Mumbai and Gurgaon.
Trump and the Nazi Salute
Trump’s aides, on their part, have so far ducked a barrage of questions on how Trump plans to run his presidency without it being affected by his several businesses. But since Trump requested a security clearance for his children who will be running his businesses, there is much speculation on a potential conflict of interest.
Take, for instance, his reception in the Trump International hotel, in Washington DC (owned by the federal government, effectively making Trump his own landlord), which served Trump wine to woo foreign diplomats.
Moreover, the foreign banks that financed Trump's acquisition of certain properties is under investigation by the Department of Justice, which will also be overseen by Trump after January.
The conflicts that are going to follow from his ownership of the Trump organisation while serving as President are pervasive, they’re obvious, they’re foreseeable.Robert Weissman, President, Public Citizen
All that aside, despite Trump’s aides maintaining that he will be a leader to everyone, Trump had made several head-turning racist remarks against Muslims and Mexicans. Therefore, it came as no surprise when he was given Nazi salutes during a conference of the National Policy Insititute – an “alt-right group dedicated to the heritage, identity, and future of people of European descent in the United States, and around the world”.
These Trump supporters who had often called for "peaceful ethnic cleansing", gave the straight arm salute when white nationalist, Richard B Spencer said, “Hail Trump, hail our people, hail victory!”
(With inputs from NBC News)
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