DICTATOR WORSHIPER IN CHIEF
This president’s foreign policy seems to favor the interest of his wallet over that of America
From the Philippines to China and Turkey to Saudi Arabia, President Trump’s adoration for authoritarian abusers is bad for those being oppressed but good for his wallet.
Conflicts of interest that directly link Trump’s bank account to despots around the world are already transforming U.S. foreign policy. Trump is selling America’s moral authority to make more money by slapping TRUMP on shimmering new buildings.
Last week, a transcript leaked of a call between Trump and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, whom Trump praised for the “unbelievable job” on dealing with “the drug problem.” He was referring to a state-sponsored murder campaign dressed up as an anti-drug initiative. Duterte’s goverment uses death squads to kill people in the streets. An estimated 7,000 people have been slaughtered.
Trump also invited Duterte to the White House — though he’s a bloodthirsty despot who bragged about personally killing people and likened himself to Hitler.
TRUMP TOWER MANILA
If you look at Trump’s business ties, his praise for despots like Duterte who abuse their people makes perfect, self-serving sense.
Trump Tower Manila opens this year. That gives Duterte lucrative leverage over Trump. But it’s worse than that. As Duterte’s crackdown intensifies, his regime is touting dubious statistics showing a crime reduction — intended to boost investor confidence. If it succeeds, property values in Manila are likely to increase.
To make matters even shadier, Duterte appointed Trump’s business partner as an official envoy to the United States. Jose Antonio broke ground on Trump Tower Manila smiling alongside Trump’s two sons. Trump’s sons are still working with Antonio on the project, while Antonio works with their dad’s administration on U.S. foreign policy toward the Philippines.
Profiting from regimes that abuse human rights has become a familiar pattern.
Just last week, the Trump Organization had another lucrative trademark approved in China. Coincidentally, several applications have been rapidly processed since Trump won. President Trump has since backed off his fiery campaign rhetoric toward China and reversed course on his pledge to label China a currency manipulator. He has also ended the longstanding bipartisan consensus of chastising Beijing for its poor human rights record.
In Turkey, Trump was the first foreign head of state to call to congratulate the autocrat of Ankara, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on rigging a referendum that demolished democracy. That vote came after months of authoritarian purges, jailing journalists and abusing human rights. Of course, Trump’s embrace of Erdogan couldn’t possibly have had anything to do with what Trump has called “a little conflict of interest,” embedded in the steel and concrete of not one but two Trump buildings in Istanbul.
KOWTOWING TO SAUDI S
Finally, Trump’s first foreign visit as president was to Saudi Arabia, one of the worst regimes for human rights. There, administration officials held a news conference without U.S. reporters after Trump did a sword dance in a country that has no free press and beheads dissidents with swords. Again, it makes sense.
In 2015, Trump registered eight companies that are each possibly linked to a development project in the second largest Saudi city, Jeddah. Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Alsaud has bailed Trump out twice, including buying one of Trump’s yachts when his Atlantic City casinos were going bust.
Even if Trump doesn’t ink any deals during his presidency, praising the Saudis will pay off when he leaves the White House and cashes in on that goodwill.
Conversely, if he does the right thing and publicly criticizes them for beheading dissidents or treating women as second-class citizens, future business deals would be jeopardized.
Presidents have been guilty of colossal human rights failures. At least we didn’t have to wonder whether Bill Clinton failed to intervene in the Rwandan genocide because he was worried about Clinton Tower Kigali, or whether Barack Obama failed to stand up to the Assad regime in Syria because Malia had a clothing line pending in Damascus.
Trump, to his credit, has taken limited military action in Syria, where he has no business. But when he must choose between his wallet and a just foreign policy that advances U.S. interests, his choices are clear for all to see.