Trump Businesses Got Millions From Foreign Governments During Presidency, House Dems Say

During former President Donald Trump’s presidency, his businesses received at least $7.8 million from governments and officials from countries like China and Saudi Arabia, a staff report by House Democrats said Thursday.

The Details: In the report, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee argued that the payments by 20 different countries violated the Constitution’s foreign emoluments clause, which forbids federal officials from accepting gifts without congressional approval. Most of the payments, totaling $5.57 million, came from China. 

Donation Disagreement: A spokesman for Trump told Fox News (Right bias) that House Democrats were “desperate to save face for Hunter Biden,” adding that “foreign profits were donated in full to the United States Treasury.” However, the House report said these donations excluded part-owned properties and “still allowed former President Trump to retain significant emoluments in the form of revenues, which its policy excluded from the funds designated for donation.”

How the Media Covered It: Coverage often reflected partisan views on Trump and was generally featured less prominently in right-rated outlets. While a Breitbart (Right bias) headline framed the report as mere allegations, The New York Times (Lean Left bias) said Trump had engaged in “the kind of conduct the G.O.P. is grasping to pin on President Biden.”