House Democrats have released a report attacking Donald Trump over the fact foreign states and state-owned businesses have occasionally purchased services from his hotel and real estate empire, comparing this to the shady business dealings of Joe Biden and his son Hunter.
The White House for Sale: How Princes, Prime Ministers, and Premiers Paid Off President Trump report lacks anything resembling a smoking gun, with the Trump Organization’s income from foreign sources consisting largely of foreign dignitaries and government-linked businesses renting office space or hotel rooms, and spending small amounts of money on conveniences like room service.
The Democrat report flagged “spending by foreign governments and entities” of as little as $590 dollars – attributed to European Union member-state Cyprus, at the Trump International Hotel in D.C. – indicating some desperation in their hunt for illicit funding sources.
The Democrats even flagged spending at Trump hotels by NATO allies Latvia and Hungary, worth $2,739 and $ 1,011, respectively.
“Former President Trump has legitimate businesses, but the Bidens do not,” commented Representative James Comer, who chairs the House Oversight Committee which has been investigating the President and his family.
Eric Trump said the idea his father had somehow benefited from financial links to China, in particular, was “insane”.
“There is no President in United States history who was tougher on China than Donald Trump,” he pointed out.
Eric also noted that The Trump Organization made a voluntary annual payment to the Treasury, gifting profits from certain hotel stays to the American people, and explained that some of the business arrangements the Democrat report took issue with long predate Trump’s presidency.
A Chinese bank renting space at Trump Tower, for example, was noted to have first signed its 20-year lease in 2008.