Foreign Entanglements

Donald J. Trump received at least $7.8 million from 20 foreign governments during his presidency according to documents released that show how much he received from overseas transactions while he was in the White House, most of it from China. The transactions, detailed in a 156-page report called “White House For Sale” that was produced by the House Oversight Committee.

The report’s evidence describes how foreign adversaries paid millions to the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C.; Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas; Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in New York; and Trump World Tower at 845 United Nations Plaza in New York. They siphoned money through his companies for preferential policy changes. Those payments included millions of dollars from China’s Communist Party, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and the Hainan Airlines Holding Company. Saudi Arabia was the second-largest spender.

The Constitution prohibits a president from accepting money, payments or gifts “of any kind whatever” from foreign governments unless he obtains “the consent of the Congress” to do so.  Trump never sought consent.