During his presidency, Trump made $160 million in foreign business deals.

In the four years that Donald Trump served as the 45th President of the United States, he made an astonishing $160 million in foreign business deals. This revelation has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the influence foreign entities may have had on his policies and decisions while in office.

According to a recent report by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), Trump’s company earned the hefty amount from deals in countries such as Turkey, India, and the Philippines. These profits were made through licensing deals, real estate sales, and other business ventures. In some cases, these deals directly involved government entities or individuals with ties to foreign governments.

The report highlights the fact that Trump did not fully divest from his business empire after taking office, which has been a source of controversy since the beginning of his presidency. Instead, he placed his assets in a trust and allowed his sons to run the Trump Organization. This arrangement raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and whether Trump’s actions as president were influenced by his personal financial interests.

One of the most notable deals that Trump made while in office was a licensing agreement in Turkey, where an estimated $13 million was earned. This deal is particularly concerning given Trump’s controversial relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his decision to withdraw U.S. troops from northern Syria, a move that was widely seen as benefiting Turkish interests.

In India, the Trump Organization reportedly earned around $36 million from licensing deals and sales of luxury properties. This has raised questions about whether Trump’s friendly relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi influenced his foreign policy decisions and trade negotiations with India.

In the Philippines, Trump’s business earned approximately $3 million through a licensing deal. This is particularly troubling given the close ties between the Trump Organization and Jose E.B. Antonio, a Filipino developer with ties to President Rodrigo Duterte, whose authoritarian regime has been criticized for human rights abuses.

These lucrative foreign deals have reignited the debate over the need for a president to fully divest from their business interests to avoid any potential conflicts of interest. Critics argue that Trump’s refusal to do so allowed foreign entities to potentially influence his decisions as president, undermining the integrity of the office.

The revelation of these foreign business deals also raises questions about the lack of transparency and accountability in Trump’s financial dealings. Despite calls for him to release his tax returns and fully disclose his business transactions, Trump consistently refused to do so, breaking with a long-standing tradition among presidential candidates and officeholders.

Overall, the report on Trump’s $160 million in foreign business deals while serving as president has added fuel to the ongoing debate about potential conflicts of interest and the need for greater transparency and accountability in presidential finances. It remains to be seen whether these revelations will lead to any legal consequences for Trump or prompt changes in the ethics and disclosure requirements for future presidents.