Unethical Practices of a President’s Businesses After Taking Office (2016 & 2025)
- Accepting Payments from Foreign Governments – Trump’s hotels and properties accepted patronage from foreign officials, raising constitutional concerns under the Emoluments Clause.
- Continuing Global Business Deals While in Office – Trump’s organization continued deals in countries like Indonesia and Turkey, risking foreign influence on U.S. policy.
- Hosting Official Events at Trump-Owned Properties – Government spending at Trump properties for official travel and events created avenues for personal enrichment.
- Revenue from Political Campaigns and Donors – Political committees and supporters frequently used Trump properties, funneling millions in donations back to the president’s businesses.
- Manipulating Tax Law to Avoid Payments – Trump paid minimal income taxes for years by claiming large business losses while maintaining luxury assets and income.
- Failure to Fully Disengage from Business Operations – While claiming to step back, Trump retained ownership and familial control over his companies, keeping financial interest in government-affecting outcomes.
- Criminal Charges Against the Trump Organization – New York prosecutors charged Trump’s company with running a tax fraud scheme, highlighting ongoing legal and ethical liabilities.
- Leveraging Political Status to Promote Personal Media – Trump used his political presence to amplify his Truth Social platform, raising questions about misuse of office for branding and stock gains.
- Involvement in Cryptocurrency Deregulation While Profiting – The Trump family promoted deregulation of digital assets while simultaneously launching crypto investment products.
- Using Presidency to Bolster Personal Brand Amid Legal Threats – Trump tied business identity to political influence, raising ethical concerns about justice interference and personal legacy building.
“This list was compiled using publicly available news and government sources with assistance from an AI language model due to our limited resources and the need to keep track of these issues as best we can. Readers are encouraged to review the sources and information for 100% accuracy.”