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Is it ethical for President Trump to host foreign dignitaries at resorts he owns?

Is it ethical for President Trump to host foreign dignitaries at resorts he owns?

  • Total voters
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radcen said:
Is it ethical* for President Trump to host foreign dignitaries at resorts he owns?

Personal financial gain from government functions where he essentially gets to dictate.

*- Ethical. The question and premise of the thread has nothing to do with legal.
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Presidents often invite dignitaries to their personal homes, there is a long precedent of this hospitality. Lots to dislike Trump over, this is not one of them.
 
Objective Voice said:
That's the likely scenario I see unfolding. The expenses will be written off and somehow Trump Org. will get a big fat check (federal tax return) compliments of WE, THE PEOPLE.
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If that happens, and I kinda doubt it will - Trump is many things, but brain dead stupid, I don't believe - then someone in government will feed the media and/or Trump opponents - same difference - and it will become a major issue, perhaps and impeachable offense.
 
yankintx said:
Presidents often invite dignitaries to their personal homes, there is a long precedent of this hospitality. Lots to dislike Trump over, this is not one of them.
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To their homes, yes. To their for-profit business? That's wholly different.
 
CanadaJohn said:
If that happens, and I kinda doubt it will - Trump is many things, but brain dead stupid, I don't believe - then someone in government will feed the media and/or Trump opponents - same difference - and it will become a major issue, perhaps and impeachable offense.
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For the sake of conversation, let's say that Trump does not charge anything for the use of his business as a venue, but he DOES take it as a tax-write-off. Would that then trigger at least an ethical obligation on his part to publish his tax returns (only for the year(s) claimed) so that there can be full disclosure to the public regarding what his financial gain was?
 
radcen said:
One thing he doles do well is make money. We've all heard the phrase "stepping over dollars to pick up pennies". He steps over the people picking up the pennies to pick up the dollars they left behind.

The real monetary value in being President isn't the salary.
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You're thinking of the Clintons maybe.
 
radcen said:
For the sake of conversation, let's say that Trump does not charge anything for the use of his business as a venue, but he DOES take it as a tax-write-off. Would that then trigger at least an ethical obligation on his part to publish his tax returns (only for the year(s) claimed) so that there can be full disclosure to the public regarding what his financial gain was?
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I don't know the answer to that question, legally, because I don't believe any person can be compelled, legally, to release their tax returns. In addition, I find it hard to believe that President Trump, personally, would have the legal ability to claim a "business" tax deduction/write off when he's not technically operating a business, as President. I assume, perhaps wrongly, that a President's tax returns, once in office, are pretty straight forward and uncomplicated by a lot of deductions etc. Now, the trust that is established to maintain his assets while he's in office may try to do so and someone better aware of tax and trust laws would have to answer the question for you about whether or not a "gift in kind", to the government, can be written off as a business expense/deduction.

I'm just guessing, but seems pretty plain to me that President Trump is very proud of the homes/establishments he owns and hosting foreign leaders and dignitaries at these locations is a bit of an ego boost for the man - the tax implications of incremental cost/value of the free facility is immaterial to his intent.
 
CanadaJohn said:
I don't know the answer to that question, legally, because I don't believe any person can be compelled, legally, to release their tax returns. In addition, I find it hard to believe that President Trump, personally, would have the legal ability to claim a "business" tax deduction/write off when he's not technically operating a business, as President. I assume, perhaps wrongly, that a President's tax returns, once in office, are pretty straight forward and uncomplicated by a lot of deductions etc. Now, the trust that is established to maintain his assets while he's in office may try to do so and someone better aware of tax and trust laws would have to answer the question for you about whether or not a "gift in kind", to the government, can be written off as a business expense/deduction.

I'm just guessing, but seems pretty plain to me that President Trump is very proud of the homes/establishments he owns and hosting foreign leaders and dignitaries at these locations is a bit of an ego boost for the man - the tax implications of incremental cost/value of the free facility is immaterial to his intent.
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A "donation", per chance? :shrug:

I'm just speculating, too.
 
radcen said:
A "donation", per chance? :shrug:

I'm just speculating, too.
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I don't know about that one either - is the government considered a "charity" for purposes of charitable donation deductions? And since, as I understand it, President Trump isn't accepting a salary - in effect, donating his entire salary to the government - what income would he be claiming such a "donation" against?
 
radcen said:
Is it ethical* for President Trump to host foreign dignitaries at resorts he owns?

Personal financial gain from government functions where he essentially gets to dictate.

*- Ethical. The question and premise of the thread has nothing to do with legal.
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I just read last night that it's costing the Taxpayers over $300,000 A DAY to protect Trump Tower. And it has cost the taxpayers over 24 MILLION to make his penthouse home at Trump Towers secure.

But according to Trump supporters that's just the cost of doing business with a president who claimed that he was going to drain the swamp. Well, it looks like the swamp is flowing into his properties and is actually increasing their value.

Why has Trump not yet placed all of his business interests in a blind trust? Why has Trump not revealed his tax returns? Isn't it obvious?

It appears that we now live in the United States of Trump Inc.
 
Removable Mind said:
Why has Trump not yet placed all of his business interests in a blind trust?
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The same reason why Russian oligarch-politicians don't employ true blind trusts ... a blind trust is designed to curb/minimize corruption possibilities.

Trump has not placed *any of his businesses* in a true blind trust.

Removable Mind said:
Why has Trump not revealed his tax returns?
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Probably because his tax returns contain potentially toxic [political] information such as gambling losses, loans from unsavory individuals, offshore accounts/tax havens, payments from a foreign government, overseas sweatshop ownership etc. etc.
 
radcen said:
To their homes, yes. To their for-profit business? That's wholly different.
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If he is charging the guests to stay at his resort, yes there could be a conflict of interest. You have proof the Trump Org is charging these dignitaries? Bush2 had many guests at his Crawford Pad, and Reagan hosted Thatcher, and the real Queen at his CA ranch, its quite a common occurrence, goes back to FDR hosting George VI in 1939 at Hyde Park. Its all good if its above board, and its not being exchanged for gifts or money.
 
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radcen said:
I know, right? Just like how the right is suddenly not concerned one whit about ethics after having whined about it for 8 years.
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Very true, all Hilldog had to do was sneeze and the righties were screaming for a full on Senate review. But Flynn lies about a call to the Russkies, and is shown the door, no questions asked, something to keep in mind come Nov 2018. Over reach and karma have something in common, there both bitches.
 
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Rogue Valley said:
The same reason why Russian oligarch-politicians don't employ true blind trusts ... a blind trust is designed to curb/minimize corruption possibilities.

Trump has not placed *any of his businesses* in a true blind trust.


Probably because his tax returns contain potentially toxic [political] information such as gambling losses, loans from unsavory individuals, offshore accounts/tax havens, payments from a foreign government, overseas sweatshop ownership etc. etc.
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There is a very good reason why he will not release his returns, we shall have to wait for Trump to piss off Putin, then we shall all see Trumps returns, courtesy of Moscow. Bet my next pay check Putin has them under his bed, ready for immediate release if need be. Believe this, if they hacked into a secure server, they sure as hell can access the IRS database, its the Russian way, file away for future use.
 
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