‘We’d Call That Corruption’: How Trump Uses The Presidency To Expand His Global Empire

Key Concepts:

• Conflicts of interest
• Emoluments Clause
• Foreign licensing income
• Trump Organization
• Government ethics
• Corruption
• Deal-making spree
• Crypto ventures

Trump's Expansion of Global Empire During Presidency

• New Company Formations: On January 30th, after Trump's inauguration, DT Marks Abu Dhabi LLC and DT Marks Abu Dhabi Member Corp were created in Delaware by a firm connected to Trump. This naming convention mirrors over 30 other licensing entities in Trump's portfolio.
• Deal-Making Spree: Since the previous fall, Trump's business has revealed eight new projects in just 10 months.
• Foreign Licensing Income Surge: Trump's foreign licensing income increased from an estimated $6 million in 2023 to nearly $50 million in 2024, a 650% increase.
• Unannounced Deals: Corporate filings suggest at least three other unannounced deals in Abu Dhabi, Serbia, and Hungary.

Reversal of Previous Promises

• Broken Promise: Trump had previously promised to launch no new ventures overseas and placed his assets in a trust during his first term.
• Limited Activity Initially: In the six years after his initial election, only one deal was added: branding a golf development in Oman.
• Current Actions: Trump now profits from politics both domestically (crypto legislation) and internationally (licensing empire).

Conflicts of Interest and International Travel

• Brazen Conflicts: The conflicts of interest are now more blatant and overlooked.
• Travel Purpose: Trump's international travel appears to be as much about personal business as national priorities.
• Scotland Visit: A trip to Scotland was planned to visit his golf resorts.
• Middle East Tour: A tour through the Middle East included stops in:
  • Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Home of Dar Al Arkan, a development firm with new deals with Trump.
  • Doha, Qatar: Site of a future Trump-branded golf community.
  • Abu Dhabi.

Ethical Concerns and Corruption Allegations

• Walter Shaub's Critique: Walter Shaub, former head of the Office of Government Ethics, stated that Trump has "absolutely demolished any sense of a government ethics program," calling it the "direct opposite of government ethics" and suggesting it amounts to "corruption."
• Increased Activity: Since the start of 2025, the Trump Organization has created at least eight new companies to do business overseas.
• Frequent Announcements: The Trump Organization has announced a new project almost every month.
• New Entities in Delaware: Two weeks prior, DT Marks Doha LLC and DT Marks Doha Member Corp were created in Delaware, potentially indicating another new foreign deal.

Lack of Scrutiny and "Burnout"

• Distraction: The president's new crypto ventures and other issues may be diverting attention.
• Richard Painter's Perspective: Richard Painter, George W. Bush's former ethics lawyer, notes "burnout on Trump ethics scandals," suggesting a desensitization due to the constant stream of controversies. He is skeptical that the cases will be refiled anytime soon.

Synthesis/Conclusion:

The video highlights concerns about potential conflicts of interest and ethical breaches arising from Donald Trump's business activities during and after his presidency. It points to a significant increase in foreign licensing income, new international deals, and a perceived disregard for previous promises and ethical norms. The lack of public scrutiny, potentially due to "burnout" from constant scandals, is also noted. The central argument is that Trump is using his political influence to expand his global business empire, raising serious questions about corruption and the integrity of government ethics.