Newsweek: HOW THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION'S FOREIGN BUSINESS TIES COULD UPEND U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY

[sarae]

Last edited Wed Sep 14, 2016, 10:37 AM - Edit history (2)

Kurt Eichenwald's article is up!

http://www.newsweek.com/2016/09/23/donald-trump-foreign-business-deals-national-security-498081.html

If Donald Trump is elected president, will he and his family permanently sever all connections to the Trump Organization, a sprawling business empire that has spread a secretive financial web across the world? Or will Trump instead choose to be the most conflicted president in American history, one whose business interests will constantly jeopardize the security of the United States?

Throughout this campaign, the Trump Organization, which pumps potentially hundreds of millions of dollars into the Trump family’s bank accounts each year, has been largely ignored. As a private enterprise, its businesses, partners and investors are hidden from public view, even though they are the very people who could be enriched by—or will further enrich—Trump and his family if he wins the presidency.

A close examination by Newsweek of the Trump Organization, including confidential interviews with business executives and some of its international partners, reveals an enterprise with deep ties to global financiers, foreign politicians and even criminals, although there is no evidence the Trump Organization has engaged in any illegal activities. It also reveals a web of contractual entanglements that could not be just canceled. If Trump moves into the White House and his family continues to receive any benefit from the company, during or even after his presidency, almost every foreign policy decision he makes will raise serious conflicts of interest and ethical quagmires.

UPDATE: CNN did a segment on Eichenwald's article:
http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/14/politics/kurt-eichenwald-donald-trump-business/

[Skidmore]

1. Good.

An article like this should have come out months ago.

[colin62]

2. NOT A BOMBSHELL

As I suspected, Huffington Post blew things out of proportion calling this a "bombshell". After all, the author only said the article "could change the dialogue". It's not even going to do that.

Yeah, to you and me the info in this article is significant but this is not bombshell material. Hell, I got bored reading and started skimming the article.

This stuff is not going to make any difference to those who support Trump and anyone on the fence. These kind of things can't be reported without details and long explanations... and because of that it's tough to digest and very easy to dismiss.

[sarae]

3. Yeah, it's pretty dry reading, which tends to really dampen the "bombshell" effect.

Damning info to his detractors, but then nothing will sway Trump's supporters anyway.

[BobbyDrake]

4. The target isn't his current supporters, but anyone still on the fence.

I don't think anyone is trying to persuade Donnie's Deplorable, because they're a lost cause. But this article could and would likely persuade an on-the-fence independent voter.

[Skidmore]

6. Any information made available to the public

about this gargantuan thing called "Trump" is a service. I'm sure you were bored, but some of us have been asking these conflict of interest questions for a year now. If the blatant conflicts of interest are fine with you I'm sure you will be looking for something shinier. The rest of us will dig in and do some hard work to prevent this man from getting no closer to the WH that his hotel down the street.

[colin62]

12. Your post is a good example of a huge problem...

In my post I clearly say, "Yeah, to you and me the info in this article is significant but this is not bombshell material."


And yet somehow your reaction is, "If the blatant conflicts of interest are fine with you I'm sure you will be looking for something shinier. The rest of us will dig in and do some hard work..."


The problem you just displayed is one reason we're in this situation with Trump. People let their EMOTIONS cloud their rational thought.

I'm clearly NOT fine with the blatant conflicts of interest in the article. But because I said it's not a bombshell and isn't going to change anything you feel like I pissed on your parade and react emotionally.

[Mc Mike]

15. There are 2 bombshells that indies and lower-info voters can grasp.

Last edited Fri Sep 16, 2016, 10:29 AM - Edit history (1)

Trump's foreign policy favors could be bought by Putin, with real estate projects. Our country's foreign policy could be sold to Putin. Just Trump and his family would profit, and the US would pay the price.

And the major media source concluded that the only way this wouldn't be true is if the Trumps completely and permanently divest from the Trump Org. Which would just leave them Trump Foundation, I guess, and maybe Trump University. Newsweek is calling for Trump to be forced to divest, and issuing a challenge to other media to follow them in endorsing this solution to candidate Trump's serious foreign policy - financial ethics conflict of interest.

Failure to completely divest completely disqualifies candidate Trump from being President.

[Skidmore]

17. Oh, I've been slogging away in the trenches for well over a year now.

Donald Trump set off alarm bells for me before he even got to the caucuses here in Iowa. I've spent months hammering away on him locally and trying to get the press to investigate him and give him the exposure he's only starting to get. Today on the way to do my errands, I'm hearing people want CHANGE dammit CHANGE. That is where the fools that prop him up are headed. I've said it before here and I'll say it again. We've had a solid 8 years with a Democratic POTUS, who made headway in spite of the Republican obstructionism and of his own party. This election is about holding ground and gaining a congress that supports an agenda without having to be tied up the witch hunts and games of the right wing. I'm fully behind Hillary every step of the way and I will help her and every candidate we have deliver whatever hurt they can to put Trump and the white nationalists/teabagger faction out of business. President Obama was on target when he said that when put someone in the arena, you stay with them and don't abandon that person.

This article is significant and it will remain significant when we insist that Trump and the rightwing's actions/inactions not be readily dismisssed as just par for the course. Yes, we may have suspected conflicts, but this information is new to the public The nations with which we could expect to have problems because of it are enumerated. I suspect this is just the tip of the iceberg. People should be reacting and explaining the significance of this in terms of national security and how this man can potentially abuse power to further his financial gains. We've already seen him turn his supporters on those who stand up to him. Imagine what he could do with a military at his disposal. There is a reason so many military men are breaking with tradition and speaking out.

[colin62]

19. Umm... What????????????

Read my post again. Now look at that unrelated diatribe you just went on.

Like I said, some people get too emotional to think rationally.

[Democat]

9. It's not a bombshell to Trump supporters

But that's a minority of Americans.

[treestar]

11. If the emails can be this can

It ought to be made into one. You know it would be if it were Hillary

[dawn frenzy adams]

22. Maybe not to you, sport

We have a president candidate whose business interests are tied to criminals and foreign interests that are a threat to the security of the United States... and that's not a bombshell? Yet, Hilary Clinton coughing is. Perhaps, you are a Trump supporter who is trying to downplay this story. I don't know. But if the Mainstream Media does not cover this extensively, they prove again their ongoing incompetence, is also a threat to national security. As a matter of fact, I called the Mainstream Media, Public Enemy Number 1. Without their complicity, the dangerous psychopath Trump would not be on the verge of becoming the President of the United States.

[colin62]

25. Quit embarrrassing yourself

Read my post post to Skidmore called "Your post is a good example of a huge problem...". It also applies to you.

[asiliveandbreathe]

27. Actually this information is a bombshell and most chilling

This stuff is not going to make any difference to those who support Trump and anyone on the fence.

That's not the point - these are National Security issues....trust me - you are going to be hearing a lot about this information..btw - he will never get near the WH - The American people will see to it!

To dismiss this stuff as you call it, is to be dismissive of our American National Security -

These kind of things can't be reported without details and long explanations... and because of that it's tough to digest and very easy to dismiss.


I would strongly suggest you read it again....this stuff, as you call it, really isn't that tough to digest..

[fun n serious]

5. The Trump idiots would have no trouble

unpacking this if it were about Clinton.

[sarae]

7. Very true.

This article would already have spawned hundreds of memes with damning quotes.

ETA: I think the trick is catching people's interest in an interesting, quick and easy-to-understand way. I suck at doing memes, but if anyone has any good ideas, you have my full support!

[fun n serious]

8. Great idea.

I suck too but you should make a thread asking for help. We should do something with this as a goup.

[Fast Walker 52]

10. I have an idea-- let's not just elect this fucking psychopath in the first place

so we don't have to worry about it.

[duncang]

13. Kurt tweeted asking for more information on any of dipshits business dealings.

So hopefully he will continue and get more or at least get the conversation in the spotlight more. Conflict of interests is something that really needs to be talked about more. And this does start it. Not the bombshell, but another drip drip, which hopefully will add up before election. But as of now it won't change minds. And I can imagine in a years time some one will be in a doctors office reading this for the first time.


Edit I don't remember dipshit tweeting this.

“Dopey Prince @Alwaleed_Talal wants to control our U.S. politicians with daddy’s money. Can’t do it when I get elected. #Trump2016.”

How presidential. This is the temperament of someone wanting to be prez. Like Hillary said he can be baited by a tweet.

From same article under picture of Ali Rashid Lootah

http://www.newsweek.com/2016/09/23/donald-trump-foreign-business-deals-national-security-498081.html

[tanyev]

14. Would a President Trump even move into the White House? There's a new Trump hotel in D.C.

He could live in a gilded penthouse suite there instead of that tacky old house all the other presidents have lived in. He could host all the state dinners there and have them catered by Trump catering and serve Trump steaks and Trump wines. He could have all his press conferences and interviews there and require media to have hotel reservations or no access.

The really scary part is I can easily imagine him trying this.

[moonscape]

23. Would beat he and Melania turning the WH into a glitzy gold horror n/t

[tanyev]

24. I'm starting to wonder if Melania has no intention of leaving NYC.

Even if, God forbid, Donald won the election.

[Ilsa]

16. I'm glad the author included the juvenile tweeting story:

With Middle Eastern business partners and American allies turning on him, Trump lashed out. Prince Alwaleed bin Talal—the billionaire who aided Trump during his corporate bankruptcies in the 1990s by purchasing his yacht, which provided him with desperately needed cash—sent out a tweet amid the outcry in Dubai, calling the Republican candidate a “disgrace.” (Alwaleed is a prodigious tweeter and Twitter’s second largest shareholder.) Trump responded with an attack on the prince—a member of the ruling Saudi royal family—with a childish tweet, saying, “Dopey Prince @Alwaleed_Talal wants to control our U.S. politicians with daddy’s money. Can’t do it when I get elected. #Trump2016.”

These are serious personality flaws and conflicts of interest and should disqualify trump from office, but yes, it is somewhat tedious reading because of all of the explanations of the deals. I like that the author clearly explained what the conflicts of interest are. I think it needs a Part 2 to cover the deals with China, Bulgaria, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, France, etc.

[BlueInPhilly]

18. Please update on media coverage

or lack thereof.

Thank you.

[sarae]

20. I just added it to the OP

CNN did a segment on it (http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/14/politics/kurt-eichenwald-donald-trump-business/)

I haven't seen much other coverage of it yet, though.

[BlueInPhilly]

21. Mainstream Media my a$$

if they don't cover something like this, they would never cover anything of substance.

The whole article is about Trump pimping his name all over the world. Now this election cycle is tarnishing that name - so it's a must win for him or the gravy train will stop. After all, whatever happened to all the Hitler Hotels and Condos?

[rurallib]

26. Media seems to think Trump's non-release of medical records much more important

[asiliveandbreathe]

28. Tks sarae - I put a discussion up earlier - same subject

I find this information chilling..the cavalier take by some here is mindboggling - see # 25 and my reply #27 - not sure if troll...just sounds like it thru this thread...