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Trump organization secures agreement on Qatar golf resort project, demonstrating no reluctance in pursuing overseas ventures.

Luxury golf resort agreement secured by Trump family firm in Qatar, suggesting no hesitation in international business ventures amid a potential second Trump presidency.

Trump business securing high-end golf resort deal in Qatar, suggesting no curtailment of...
Trump business securing high-end golf resort deal in Qatar, suggesting no curtailment of international business ventures under potential second presidency.

Trump organization secures agreement on Qatar golf resort project, demonstrating no reluctance in pursuing overseas ventures.

The Trump Organization announced on Wednesday a deal to construct a luxury golf resort in Qatar, signaling potential continuation of foreign business endeavors during a potential second Trump administration. This project, which encompasses Trump-branded beachside villas and an 18-hole golf course to be developed by a Saudi Arabian company, represents the first foreign deal since President Donald Trump took office.

In contrast to his initial term, during which he forswore foreign deals at a highly publicized press conference surrounded by stacks of legal documents, this arrangement deviates markedly. Initially, he pledged to steer clear of any semblance of conflict of interest.

Noah Bookbinder, president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, denounced the Qatari deal, stating, "One desires a president whose decisions are in the best interest of the United States, rather than his personal financial gain."

The planned resort, located north of Doha, the Qatari capital, will be jointly developed by Qatari Diar, a Qatari government-owned company, and Dar Global, a Saudi Arabian partner. This arrangement appears to violate the Trump Organization's second-term ethics pledge, which allowed for foreign deals but stipulated that no such deals would involve foreign governments.

When asked to clarify, the Trump Organization stated that its arrangement was with Dar Global, not Qatari Diar, although Eric Trump, who oversees the business, mentioned both companies in a previous statement.

The planned Trump International Golf Club and Trump Villas mark the first of what could be many such deals. They follow other deals, made prior to Trump's swearing-in, including a golf resort in Vietnam late last year with a company tied to the Communist Party.

The deals have attracted criticism from government watchdogs but have largely been met with silence from Trump's Republican colleagues in Congress. Efforts to reach Sen. James Risch of Idaho and Rep. Brian Mast of Florida, the Senate and House foreign relations committee chairs, for comment were unsuccessful.

Any deal with Saudi Arabia raises concerns in foreign policy circles, given Trump's close relationship with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This connection drew severe criticism during his first term, following the 2018 killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi columnist for The Washington Post who had openly criticized the monarchy.

The deal on Wednesday with Dar Global follows two Riyadh projects from December. Dar Global is not directly owned by the Saudi government but has close ties to the royal Saudi family.

Other ties between Trump and Saudi Arabia include his son-in-law Jared Kushner, who reportedly received a $2 billion investment from the Saudi sovereign wealth fund in an investment fund managed by Kushner, and the Saudi government-backed LIV Golf, which has hosted tournaments at Trump's Doral resort near Miami.

Despite Trump's initial term pledge to avoid actions that could be perceived as conflicted with his personal financial holdings and business, he ended up opening the door to numerous potential pay-to-play deals. His hotel near the White House played host to numerous corporate lobbyists, CEOs, members of Congress, and diplomats. Trump initially suggested hosting a G7 meeting of global leaders at Doral, but he later backed down following an ethical outcry.

Several lawsuits were filed against the first Trump administration, accusing it of violating the emoluments clause of the U.S. Constitution, which forbids a president from accepting gifts or payments from foreign or domestic governments. One case was appealed to the Supreme Court but was never heard as the issue became moot when Trump left office.

This time, the hotel has been sold to a Miami investment firm, but other potential sources of conflict of interest have emerged. The Trump Organization also owns a significant portion of the publicly traded parent company of the social media platform Truth Social, allowing Trump to financially benefit from traffic to the site where his postings as U.S. president are widely followed. The family also has a stake in a cybercurrency trading platform called World Liberty Financial, as Trump has advocated for less regulatory oversight on cybercurrencies.

  1. The Trump Organization's deal to construct a luxury golf resort in Qatar, involving a Saudi Arabian company, marks a significant deviation from Trump's initial pledge to steer clear of foreign business deals that could create a conflict of interest during his presidency.
  2. The planned Trump International Golf Club and Trump Villas, to be developed in association with Qatari Diar and Dar Global, represent the first foreign deal since President Donald Trump took office and potentially violate the Trump Organization's second-term ethics pledge.
  3. Critics, including Noah Bookbinder, president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, argue that such deals could prioritize personal financial gain over the best interests of the United States.
  4. Deals like the one with Saudi Arabia's Dar Global raise concerns in foreign policy circles, given the close relationship between Trump and the Saudi royal family, especially in light of the 2018 killing of Jamal Khashoggi.
  5. Trump's financial ties to Saudi Arabia, such as the investment in an investment fund managed by his son-in-law Jared Kushner and the hosting of LIV Golf tournaments at Trump's Doral resort, have also come under scrutiny for potential conflicts of interest.

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