Trump's 'Winter White House' raises more conflict of interest accusations

Donald Trump is raising more concerns about conflict of interest after he hosted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at his private club in Florida, Mar a-Lago.

While Trump said that he would pay the costs associated with Abe's stay, the president is usinghis positionto promote his private club, which still generates for him personal income. NBC reported that the resort doubled its initiation fee from $100,000 to $200,000 on January 25, days into his presidency.

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Mentions of "Mar a-Lago" are included in official presidential communication, and no doubt will be played all over news stations across the world. His presidential communicationsare now essentially free advertising for his business. The regular activities of a president, like meeting other world leaders, are nowgenerating personal income for Trump.

Anybody who pays the$200,000 fee can potentially have access to the president at an event.And even if there's no exchange with him, paying$200,000 that ultimately goes to a Trump company can only make a lobbyist more popular.

Recent background

Trump using the White House to promote his business is not new. That is literally what he did at the beginning of the month.

The Mar-a-Lagoaccusation comes after Trump and other members of his administration used their public profile to promoteIvanka Trump's clothing line after Nordstrom decided to stop sellingit.

Trump himself used his Twitter feed to punisha public company for making abusiness decision that was well within their rights.

Top Trump aideKellyanne Conway was even more brazen,explicitly encouragingthe public to buy Trump branded products. Appearing on the Fox And Friends TV show, Conway said: "Go buy Ivanka's stuff, is what I would say. I hate shopping --I'm going to buy stuff today." Later in the show she said, "It's a wonderful line. I own some of it...I'm going to give a free commercial here. Go buy it today, everybody. You can find it online."

Asked about these comments, which ethics experts criticized her heavily, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said, "She has been counselled on that subject, and that's it".

Only divesting is enough

Ethics experts havesaid that Trump's actions to supposedly prevent conflicts of interest fall very short of sufficient. Trump pledged not to make any new deals while President, and claims he has removed himself from day-to-day operations of his company. Critics say that so long as Trump continues toprofit from his businesses, whether or not he makes thedecisions is irrelevant. Anyway, his adult sons are in charge of the company, and have already sat in on meetings with world leaders.

The "Winter White House" is far from the only case where Trump is using his public position to advance his personal income.The Atlantic catalogued no less than 31 "clear-cut examples" of other conflicts of interest.

Whether or not he will escapelegal consequences isunclear. Ever since his presidency began there have been petitions seeking toimpeach Trumpfor violating the US constitution, particularly the "emoluments clause". Inthe meantime, Trump is intent on using his position as a public servant in the White Houseto generatepersonal income.

(WION)