An article in the Washington Post yesterday details the thoughts of some foreign diplomats as they book rooms at Trump’s Washington hotel. Unsurprisingly, many of them view putting money directly into the pocket of the president-elect may be a good way to curry favor and influence policy.
Back when many expected Trump to lose the election, speculation was rife that business would suffer at the hotels, condos and golf courses that bear his name. Now, those venues offer the prospect of something else: a chance to curry favor or access with the next president.
Understanding Trump’s personality, some diplomats are planning to use the fact that they avoided his competitors as a way to suck up to the future president.
“Why wouldn’t I stay at his hotel blocks from the White House, so I can tell the new president, ‘I love your new hotel!’ Isn’t it rude to come to his city and say, ‘I am staying at your competitor?’ ” said one Asian diplomat.
Of course, they understand how all of this looks.
But several expressed concern that spending thousands of dollars on a Trump property could look like an attempt to buy access or favors.
“The temptation and the inclination will certainly be there,” said Arturo Sarukhan, a former Mexican ambassador to the United States. “Some might think it’s the right way to engage, to be able to tell the next president, ‘Oh, I stayed at your hotel.’ If I were still in government, I would discourage it, among other reasons because it can be questioned and looked at in a very poor light, as though you are trying to buy influence via a hotel bill.”
But according to the article, there isn’t currently a law preventing it.
And of course, he has a blind trust being run by his own children that isn't blind in the least.
He’s also been meeting with foreign business partners in Trump Tower while he’s transitioning into the presidency.
The corruption is already knee deep and he isn’t even in office yet.
