How Trump's companies have benefited from foreign governments during his presidency (with China at the forefront)

The 156-page report titled 'The White House for Sale' was prepared by Democrats on the watchdog and shows how more than 20 foreign countries, led by China and Saudi Arabia, spent millions of dollars on Trump's companies.

The statement was released amid an effort by Republicans to continue Accusation President Joe Biden fails to show evidence on corruption charges

Contrary to Republican efforts, the Democrats' report is based on more than 400 pages of documents that demonstrate payments to Trump's companies by foreign officials who sought to influence the U.S. government.

“By elevating his personal financial interests and the political priorities of corrupt foreign powers over the benefit of the American public, former President Trump violated the clear mandates of the Constitution and the careful precedent established and followed by all previous commanders in chief,” it said. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the top Democrat on the oversight committee, prefaced the report.

In countries where Trump has spent money on companies, China ranks first with $5.5 million Payments were made by that country's embassy in the United States, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and Hainan Airlines Holding.

Saudi Arabia contributed more than $615,000 to the Trump World Tower in New York and the Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC.

According to the report, when he arrived at the White House, Trump was determined to “take advantage of a new and unprecedented way to make his businesses more profitable for himself and his family.”

“It soon becomes clear that he viewed the presidency as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to maximize personal enrichment and profit, courtesy of some of the world's most corrupt governments,” the report's foreword added.

Ruskin and other Democrats have accused Trump for years of violating the Constitution's ban on receiving gifts or “emoluments” from foreign kings, princes or governments by refusing to divest his businesses upon taking office.

Trump has faced lawsuits based on the pay rules, but the Supreme Court has declined to decide the case after he leaves the White House in 2021.

Congressional Democrats obtained documents based on the report from Mazars, an accounting firm used by Trump's companies, that had dropped Trump's account and reported it. It couldn't support a decade of financial statements it produced for Trump companies.

The documents obtained from Mazar cover only two of Trump's four years in the White House because, after taking control of the lower house, Republicans abandoned efforts to compile them, focusing instead on finding evidence of corruption against Biden.

The report reveals “a staggering web of millions of dollars paid directly to Trump-owned companies by foreign governments and their agents while President Trump was in the White House.”

“These governments were paid when they promoted specific foreign policy objectives with the Trump administration, and sometimes with President Trump, and when they demanded specific actions from the United States to advance their own domestic policy objectives,” it alleges.

The report also recalls how at a campaign rally in 2015, Trump touted his wealth from foreign governments: “Saudi Arabia, I'm good with them, they buy me apartments, they spend. $40 million, $50 million. Should I not like them? I want them.” Love it!”

House Republicans downplayed the report's revelations, saying there was nothing wrong with receiving income from foreign governments while Trump was president, despite what the Constitution says.

For his part, the former president's son Eric Trump, who was in charge of the company's management during his administration, has repeatedly said that any profits made from foreign officials staying at the former president's hotels were donated. Central Government by paying annually to the Treasury Department.

But according to the report, donating hotel profits to the treasury does not meet constitutional requirements.

The report recalls that the Constitution prohibits the receipt of “money, payments or gifts of any kind” from foreign governments and monarchs unless “with the consent of Congress.” .