A resolution condemning the private business agreements of President Donald J. Trump with foreign governments for posing unacceptable conflicts of interest, affirming such agreements violate the Foreign Emoluments Clause of the Constitution of the United States, and demanding the transfer of any proceeds from such agreements to the United States Government.
This is a Senate resolution introduced by Senator Blumenthal that condemns private business agreements between President Donald J. Trump and foreign governments. It asserts these deals create unacceptable conflicts of interest and argues they violate the Foreign Emoluments Clause of the Constitution, which prohibits the President from accepting gifts or payments from foreign states without Congress’s consent. The resolution cites specific Trump Organization projects and partnerships with foreign governments or entities tied to them (including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Serbia, and others) and demands that any proceeds from such agreements be transferred to the United States Government. It is a non-binding statement of the Senate’s position, not a law, and there is no enforcement mechanism spelled out in the text.
Key Points
- 1The resolution condemns private business agreements between President Donald J. Trump and foreign governments, claiming they pose unacceptable conflicts of interest.
- 2It affirms that such agreements violate the Foreign Emoluments Clause (Article I, Section 9, Clause 8) because the President did not obtain Congress’s consent for these deals.
- 3It enumerates several specific arrangements and potential profits, including LIV Golf events in Saudi Arabia hosted at Trump properties, Trump Organization plans in Oman and Serbia, and a large deal connected to a Qatar project with Saudi-linked firms.
- 4It states that engaging in these private transactions with foreign governments could unduly influence U.S. foreign policy and erode public trust in the presidency.
- 5The resolution demands that any proceeds received by President Trump from these agreements be transferred to the United States Government.