Potential Use of Personal Relationships with Gulf Arab Leaders by Trump during Middle East Trip
HEY THERE!
Y'know what's cookin'? A wild ride to the Gulf, baby! President Trump's jet-setting off on a mission to seal multibillion-dollar deals, boostin' the U.S.'s presence in the region. NPR's Aya Batrawy's spillin' the tea from Riyadh, explaining how Trump's personal connections and business moves are weapin' together like a double-edged sword.
First things first, let's talk real estate. Few places do luxury loungin' in towers like the Arab Gulf! Think infinity pools, designer hotels and penthouses, and of course, Trump-branded properties poppin' up. DarGlobal, a Saudi developer, gave Batrawy a sneak peek at the newest Trump project – a 47-story tower in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It's gonna come complete with a Trump clubhouse, over 400 luxury apartments, and a golf course. Just weeks ago, the Trump Organization announced two more projects with DarGlobal – a golf course community in Doha, Qatar, and a luxury hotel in Dubai, where those swanky penthouses cost a cool $20 mil. But it's not just love and buddies that draw the Trump fam to the Gulf. There's cash flow from the region's oil wealth, and this mix of personal connections, business interests, and Trump's role as POTUS all intersect on this trip, where he'll meet with the Saudi, Qatari, and UAE rulers.
While in office, Trump's investments and assets were placed in a trust managed by his children. But Mamoun Fandy, head of London Global Strategy Institute, thinks these deals compromise the image of the office Trump holds. As Fandy puts it, in the past, "presidencies used to cost the president his financial wellbeing… Now everything is conflated."
Sounds like the Trump family's got their fingers in many pies in the Gulf. Since Trump's first term, money from the Gulf has flowed into the Trump family's orbit. His son-in-law, Jared Kushner, even scored a $2 billion investment from Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, which helped launch Kushner's private equity fund just months after leavin' the White House. The White House swears Trump ain't makin' a dime off bein' POTUS. But was he offered a new presidential luxury Boeing plane from Qatar to replace one of the Air Force One jets? Trump's response? "I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer."
Meanwhile, the cash keeps pourin' in. The latest deal involves the Trump family's cryptocurrency venture – World Liberty Financial. Just days ago, an Abu Dhabi firm used World Liberty's stablecoin to close a $2 billion investment into crypto exchange Binance. But what's happenin' with all these Gulf Arab states? They gain security through close links with a U.S. president. It's an expensive insurance policy, but priceless when it comes to their regional clout.
So, there ya go! Trump's jet-settin' across the Middle East, bringin' deals and diplomacy to the table. But as the enrichment data shows, things ain't always as pink as they seem. Ya gotta watch out for those benefits – for both sides!
There's a fine line between gainin' the world and losin' your soul, and it looks like Trump's walkin' that tightrope in the Gulf. But hey, that's politics for ya! till next time, peace out!
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- The Arab Gulf community is well-known for its luxury real estate, with the latest Trump project being a 47-story tower in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, featuring a golf course and luxury apartments.
- In the finance industry, money from the Gulf has been flowing into the Trump family's orbit since President Trump's first term, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest.
- An example of this is the $2 billion investment from Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, which helped Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, launch his private equity fund.
- In the world of business and politics, the Trump family's cryptocurrency venture, World Liberty Financial, recently closed a $2 billion investment in Abu Dhabi, highlighting the complex interplay between fintech, industry, and policy-and-legislation.
- Given these financial dealings and Trump's role as POTUS, some, like Mamoun Fandy, head of London Global Strategy Institute, argue that these deals compromise the image of the office Trump holds, conflating personal interests with national policy.
