The Guardian: Trump has put up a for-sale sign in front of the White House.
The British newspaper wrote in an article: Former White House lawyers, diplomatic officials and foreign affairs experts have told The Guardian that the acceptance of foreign gifts and special investments by US President Donald Trump is “unprecedented.”
The report adds: The White House is rebuilding its foreign policy based on a “pay-for-access” model [allowing special access to foreign officials or governments through gifts or investments], which critics say may violate the US Constitution.
The Guardian noted: [Trump’s] embrace of foreign aid was on full display this week, as the US president was welcomed to Gulf states on his first major diplomatic trip of the term, signing deals he claimed were worth trillions of dollars and encouraging local leaders to invest.
According to the report, Trump says he is reshaping US foreign policy to pursue an “America First” mantra, “setting aside concerns about human rights or international law to take into account the interests of American businesses and taxpayers.”
The newspaper added that in many cases, however, the ultimate benefit has gone directly to Trump himself. According to media estimates, his family’s wealth has increased by more than $3 billion, and reported benefits from cryptocurrency and other investment deals, such as plans for new Trump-branded real estate, could be much higher.
Meanwhile, Richard Painter, a senior White House lawyer under former US President George W. Bush, said that “when we negotiate with other countries, the concern is that if someone does a favor or gives a gift to the president of the United States, our position [in negotiations] will change.”
“Whether it’s trying to resolve the Russia-Ukraine war, the Middle East or anything else, there’s a perception that the U.S. position can be influenced or even bought,” he added.
Others argue that the message the White House is sending is that U.S. foreign policy is being sold to the highest bidder, according to the report.
“Trump has put up a for sale sign in front of the White House,” said Norm Eisen, executive director of the State Defenders of Democracy Fund and former U.S. President Barack Obama’s ambassador to the Czech Republic. “You’re going to see a bidding war between Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Qatar says, ‘I’ll give you a $400 million plane,’ and the Emirates says, ‘I’ll give you $2 billion for your cryptocurrency company.’”
“This is not America First,” said Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut. “This is not what he promised the American people. This is Trump First.” He is willing to jeopardize our national security and take illegal bribes just so he can fly himself and his golfing buddies at Mar-a-Lago around the world in luxury gold-plated planes gifted to him by foreign governments.