Tracking Trump’s visits to his properties and other conflicts of interest

When Donald Trump took the oath of office for the second time, CREW immediately began tracking his conflicts of interest. Once again, President Trump has defied all norms of the presidency and created untold numbers of conflicts of interest by failing to divest from his business interests before taking office.

As we did during Trump’s first term, CREW is tracking the conflicts of interest surrounding Trump’s properties. These conflicts include visits to Trump properties by Trump, members of his cabinet, and state and foreign government officials; events held by foreign governments, special interests and political groups at Trump properties; and instances where Trump, cabinet members and other government offices use their platform to promote Trump businesses publicly.

While Trump’s newer business ventures like Truth Social, World Liberty Financial and his memecoin ($TRUMP) pose significant corruption risks, those conflicts of interest are less readily quantifiable and much more opaque than his hotels, resorts and golf courses, which are open for business for those looking to curry favor with his administration.

The endless parade of self-dealing and profiteering raises significant, important questions about how Trump’s decision making as president could be motivated by its impact on his bank account, rather than the effect it will have on the national interest and the American people.

Trump made hundreds of visits to his properties during his first term in office, and he’s continuing that trend. His near-constant presence at properties that he owns and profits from signals to those looking to influence him and his administration that they should follow suit. It generates free advertising, since the press is on hand, and may also generate revenue when government agencies like the Secret Service spend money to travel with him.

The presidency provides Trump with an unlimited marketing platform to promote his properties. In official remarks, interviews, social media posts and meetings with U.S. and foreign leaders, President Trump finds or manufactures opportunities to shower his hotels, resorts and golf courses with praise and uses his influence to drive business to his properties. Trump’s cabinet members may follow suit, using their positions as well to shout out to their boss’s properties.

Trump’s properties were hardly a destination for the political set before he became president, but once he stepped into office, special interests, political groups and foreign governments began to flock to his properties. With these lavish and often expensive events, groups vie to curry favor with the president.