President Trump has tried to use the presidency to enrich himself by promoting his businesses as extensions of his administration. That includes conducting government business at them, praising them in his official capacity, and even going so far as to offer exclusive perks to members of his clubs including access to government leaders, influence on government business, and in some cases, appointments to government positions.
Perhaps most concerning, President Trump’s political allies have embraced the arrangement by making their own visits to his properties and showering them with political cash. In other cases, officials’ visits to his properties have led to Trump profiting at taxpayer expense, as state and federal funds are paid to Trump businesses to cover various aspects of his visits or the visits of state and federal officials to his properties.
This has sent a loud-and-clear message to special interests and foreign governments attempting to influence the Trump administration. Patronizing President Trump’s businesses, which results in personal income for the president, has become a key tactic used in influence campaigns that seek to curry favor with the Trump administration.
