During his first term as US President, Donald Trump has subjected his foreign companies and business contacts to constant scrutiny for possible conflicts of interest. But over the last four years, it has managed to expand its business empire with new deals in various countries, including South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
As of 2020, the Trump Organization had 52 assets, according to the WSJ. While Trump was president, he decided not to move forward with projects in Israel, Saudi Arabia and the Philippines. After leaving the White House, the companies continued to expand abroad and now manage 49 assets, including eight new projects.
The former president’s business empire includes at least 17 housing projects, 12 golf courses and 12 hotels or resorts, according to the WSJ. The paper also cites an example of a $1.6 billion deal between the Trump Organization and Omani Dar Al Arkan to brand and manage a golf resort in Oman.
But Trump’s critics argue that he did not do enough to separate politics and business interests in his first term. “The influence of foreign money on the President of the United States is extremely dangerous,” said Richard Painter, who was the White House’s chief ethics attorney during the George W. Bush administration.
Trump himself has denied any ethical wrongdoing and noted that the Trump Organization was involved in real estate projects and other overseas ventures long before he entered politics.
According to Forbes, Trump’s net worth is now $2.6 billion, he had $4.5 billion in 2016 before his election, but had lost more than half of his wealth during his presidency by 2020. The value of his assets only began to increase after he left the White House. By 2023, he had already left the list of the 400 richest people in America.
Previously Trump to win Iowa caucuses.