Giuliani: Trump’s kids could run ‘blind trust’
WASHINGTON — A top adviser to Presidentelect Donald Trump says it would be “unrealistic” to purge his children from his businesses and hand their control over to an independent trustee.
Appearing on televised interviews yesterday, Giuliani initially said Trump should set up “some kind of blind trust.” When pressed, Giuliani told CNN’s “State of the Union” that Trump’s unusual situation might call for more flexibility than a traditional blind trust and involve his three children.
“I think he’s in a very unusual situation,” Giuliani said. “He would basically put his children out of work” if he didn’t involve them, Giuliani said.
He says the children would then have to “start a whole new business and that would set up ... new problems.”
Giuliani said Trump’s three adult children — Ivanka, Donald Jr. and Eric — who are involved in his businesses, would not advise Trump once he becomes president in January. All three children are, however, are on the executive committee of Trump’s transition team.
Giuliani said after the inauguration “there will have to be a wall” between Trump’s children and Trump “with regard to government matters.”
One possibility to separate Trump from his businesses without removing his children would be a “legal or clear document that meant that he would not be involved, he would have no interest in it, he would have no input into it, (and) he would just have a passive interest,” Giuliani said.
Trump’s vast corporate empire could lead to questions about potential conflicts of interest — that decisions he makes as president could benefit him and his family financially unless a traditional blind trust is created.
Trump has a direct stake in more than 500 companies, according to his disclosures with the Federal Election Commission.