According to a recent report by House Democrats, former US President Donald Trump received at least $7.8 million in foreign government payments while in office.
Twenty foreign countries paid Trump’s businesses over a two-year period, according to a report released by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee.
This money came from “some of the most unsavory regimes in the world,” according to Representative Jamie Raskin, a prominent member of the Oversight Committee. According to the report, China was the greatest donor, giving Trump-owned buildings over $5.5 million. Other donors included Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, India, and Afghanistan.
The foreign emoluments clause of the Constitution, which forbids the president from taking gifts or payments of any kind from foreign governments without the approval of Congress, is allegedly violated by these payments, according to Raskin. According to Raskin, Trump never asked for this kind of permission while in office.
According to Raskin, the $7.8 million mentioned in the study is a very small portion of all the foreign money that Trump has gotten. Trump personally benefited from the payments, which went toward assets like his hotels in New York City, Las Vegas, and Washington, D.C., while he was making important foreign policy choices.
The study cites instances where Saudi Arabia spent more than $615,400 at Trump properties despite Trump having signed a $100 billion arms contract with the nation in 2017.
The report is based on records from Trump’s previous accounting company, Mazars, which were acquired following years of litigation brought on by Democrats. Democrats overcame several challenges to acquire a portion of the records, which provided insight into Trump’s financial dealings during his administration.
Requests for reaction regarding these claims have not yet been answered by Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.
