Trump Denies Conflict of Interest Amid Saudi Deals and Crown Prince Visit

Trump's Welcome for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

• 👑 President Trump extended a royal welcome to Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), including a dinner in his honor and an escort by mounted horses.
• ✈️ F-35 fighter jets, which Trump is selling to Saudi Arabia, flew overhead during the visit.
• 🏛️ Trump showcased White House renovations and the Presidential Walk of Fame to MBS.

Denials Regarding Jamal Khashoggi Murder

• ❓ Trump dismissed concerns about his warm reception of MBS, particularly in light of the brutal murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
• 🔪 Khashoggi was dismembered in 2018 in a Saudi consulate, a murder the CIA assessed MBS likely approved.
• 🤷 Trump stated, "things happen" and claimed he knew nothing about the murder, despite CIA assessments.

Flattery on Human Rights Record

• 🇸🇦 Trump praised MBS's human rights record, calling it "incredible," despite Saudi Arabia's high execution rates and credible reports of torture and unlawful killings.
• 🌍 This praise is contrasted with Saudi Arabia's standing as one of the countries with the highest execution rates globally, behind only Iran and China.

Trump Family's Business Ties to Saudi Arabia

• 🤥 Senior editor Dan Alexander of Forbes stated that Trump's claim of minimal business dealings with Saudi Arabia is false.
• 🏢 Saudi firms are reportedly involved in Trump's real estate licensing empire, with seven announced deals primarily in the Middle East.
• ⛳ Trump's golf business has collected approximately $6 million from LIV Golf, which is backed by the Saudi government, restoring prestige to his properties after the PGA Tour and R&A withdrew.

Ownership and Financial Dealings

• 📊 Federal filings indicate Trump still owns significant stakes in his business assets, including 80% of some Saudi Arabian licensing deals and 100% of others.
• 🏨 The Trump Organization is building a hotel in the Maldives with Saudi Dada Global, a major Saudi developer crucial to Trump's Middle East growth.
• 📈 Trump's business model often involves generating buzz and excitement around assets, potentially inflating valuations, as seen with Trump Media and Technology Group and meme coins.

Public Opinion and Foreign Policy Focus

• 📉 Gallup polling shows Saudi Arabia has had negative net approval ratings among Americans for 24 consecutive years, even lower than Russia.
• ✈️ Trump's first foreign leader visits in both his first and second terms were to Saudi Arabia.
• 📈 Foreign policy, including his stance on ending wars, is reportedly helping Trump's approval ratings, which have improved in his second term compared to his first, unlike his struggles with the economy.