Public Office Should Not Be a Personal Business
To the Editor:
The office of the president of the United States isn’t supposed to be a business venture. The Constitution makes that clear through the two Emoluments Clauses, which forbid presidents from accepting gifts or payments from foreign governments or US states. These rules exist for one reason — to ensure that elected officials are working for their constituents and not themselves Unfortunately, President Trump has openly violated the Emoluments Clauses numerous times. Unlike previous presidents, he refused to separate himself from his global business empire. His hotels, golf courses, and other ventures kept running under his ownership while he sat in the Oval Office. It didn’t take long before foreign diplomats, state officials, and business interests began booking events and rooms at Trump properties. Trump obviously views his presidency as an opportunity to enrich himself and his family.
A congressional investigation later found that his companies have received more than $7.8 million from foreign governments during his administration. Lately, Trump has been promoting a cryptocurrency called $TRUMP, a coin in which his family reportedly controls the majority of the supply. President Trump does not even attempt to hide this corruption. As he has said he can do anything he wants, and the spineless GOP members of Congress allow him to get away with it.
Now, Trump is shamelessly asking taxpayers to reimburse him $250 million for legal costs tied to his civil prosecutions, claiming he was unfairly targeted as a former president. The reality is that many of those cases dealt with his private business dealings — actions that happened long before his time in the White House. Expecting taxpayers to cover that bill is outrageous.
The Founders, in adding the Emoluments Clauses to the Constitution, demonstrated their concern that a corrupt president might endeavor to use the powers of his office to enrich himself. They demanded that elected officials must work for their constituents, not themselves. Whether it’s hotel income, cryptocurrency profits, luxury passenger planes, or a gold-platted new ballroom, the pattern looks the same — President Trump is using the people’s office for his personal benefit.
No president should be allowed to turn public service into a personal payday. As voters, we have the power to ensure that government officials work for us and not themselves. We voters can put an end to the amoral and lawless conduct by this president. The American voters are more powerful than President Trump thinks he is. We need to be concerned, pay attention, and vote.
Bill Balch La Grange