In a landmark hearing, the Supreme Court began addressing complex constitutional challenges surrounding executive branch financial entanglements. The court explored unprecedented legal territory regarding potential emoluments violations, signaling a willingness to directly examine potential …
Supreme CourtDepartment of JusticeExecutive Branchemolumentssupreme-courtconstitutional-accountabilityjudicial-reviewexecutive-power
Multiple federal courts reached a critical constitutional impasse regarding presidential emoluments enforcement in April 2025. The D.C. Circuit Court suggested potential criminal referrals for foreign financial entanglements, while the 4th Circuit Court blocked traditional accountability mechanisms, …
D.C. Circuit Court4th Circuit CourtDepartment of JusticeCongressemolumentsconstitutional-crisisjudicial-reviewfinancial-conflict
Despite ongoing concerns about potential Emoluments Clauses violations, the Supreme Court has continued to avoid definitively ruling on the constitutional questions surrounding presidential financial conflicts. Previous cases from 2021 were dismissed as moot, leaving unclear legal standards about …
The Supreme Court held a rare emergency hearing addressing multiple constitutional challenges to the Trump administration’s foreign financial entanglements. Legal scholars described the proceedings as a watershed moment in constitutional law, with justices probing the boundaries of …
Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund MGX committed $2 billion to Trump’s World Liberty Financial stablecoin project, representing massive foreign government investment in sitting president’s business.
Abu Dhabi MGXWorld Liberty FinancialDonald Trumpcryptoforeign-investmentemolumentssovereign-wealth
In a landmark series of cases, federal courts grappled with complex emoluments clause violations by the Trump administration. Multiple district and appellate courts issued conflicting rulings, exposing deep systemic challenges in holding executive branch officials accountable for foreign financial …
Federal JudiciaryTrump AdministrationDepartment of JusticeSupreme Courtconstitutional-crisisemolumentsjudicial-reviewseparation-of-powers
In February 2025, the Supreme Court and federal district courts reached a critical impasse over presidential emoluments enforcement. Following a pattern established in previous cases, the Court repeatedly declined to resolve substantive questions about Trump’s potential constitutional …
Supreme CourtFederal District CourtsTrump Administrationconstitutional-crisisemolumentsjudicial-reviewseparation-of-powerssupreme-court+1 more
The Swiss National Bank, Switzerland’s central bank majority owned by public entities,
purchased 111,300 shares of Trump Media & Technology Group valued at $1.78 million
during Q3 2024, according to SEC disclosures. By February 2025, the bank’s holdings
increased to 157,500 shares …
Swiss National BankDonald TrumpDonald Trump Jr.Trump Media & Technology GroupZürcher Kantonalbankemolumentsforeign-influenceconflict-of-interesttruth-socialconstitutional-crisis
Eric Trump announced the Trump Organization’s first Saudi Arabia project—a 47-floor,
SAR 2 billion ($530M) Trump Tower in Jeddah, developed with London-listed Dar Global.
The tower on Jeddah’s Corniche will include Trump Club, the Kingdom’s first members-only
social club, with …
Eric TrumpDonald TrumpTrump OrganizationDar Globalforeign-influencesaudi-arabiaconflict-of-interestemoluments
A staff report by House Oversight Committee Democrats, based on Mazars-produced records for
limited years and entities, found that Trump businesses received at least $7.8 million from 20
foreign governments while he was president—likely an undercount. Watchdogs report higher
estimates when …
U.S. House Committee on Oversight (Minority Staff)Donald J. Trump / Trump OrganizationCREWemolumentsforeign-influencetransparency
House Oversight Committee analysis of Mazars USA documents reveals at least $7.8 million from 20 foreign governments flowed to Trump properties between 2017-2019, representing only four properties out of 500+ Trump entities. China led with $5,572,548 primarily through $5.4 million Trump Tower lease. …
House Oversight CommitteeDonald TrumpTrump OrganizationChina (ICBC)Saudi Arabia+2 moreemolumentsforeign-paymentsconstitutional-violationcongressional-investigationfinancial-corruption
Supreme Court dismissed all three pending emoluments clause lawsuits against Trump as moot after he left office, including CREW v. Trump, DC/Maryland v. Trump, and Blumenthal v. Trump (200+ Democratic members of Congress). The Court vacated lower court decisions that had allowed cases to proceed, …
US Supreme CourtDonald TrumpCREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington)District of ColumbiaMaryland+1 moreemolumentssupreme-courtconstitutional-lawjudicial-dismissalaccountability-failure
Vice President Mike Pence’s September 2019 stay at Trump Doonbeg in Ireland cost taxpayers $3.6 million total, requiring a 181-mile detour from Dublin meetings. Pence flew across Ireland to stay at Trump’s golf resort rather than in Dublin where his official meetings occurred. The …
Mike PenceTrump International Golf Links & Hotel DoonbegSecret ServiceState Departmentemolumentsdomestic-emolumentstrump-propertiestaxpayer-wasteconflict-of-interest
President Trump proposed hosting the 2020 G-7 summit at his Trump National Doral
golf resort in Miami, which would have directed millions in government spending
to his struggling property. Trump claimed Doral was “by far the best physical
facility” and offered to host “at …
Donald TrumpTrump National DoralG-7 leadersMick Mulvaneyemolumentsself-dealingdoralg7-summitconflict-of-interest+2 more
Chinese government approved 16 trademarks for Ivanka Trump’s fashion business in October 2018 while she served as White House senior advisor during U.S.-China trade negotiations. Approvals included rare categories like voting machines. Earlier in April 2017, China approved 3 trademarks the …
Ivanka TrumpChinese governmentChina National Intellectual Property AdministrationWhite HouseXi Jinpingemolumentschinatrademarksconflict-of-interesttrade-negotiations+1 more
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s entourage booked approximately 500 rooms at
Trump International Hotel in New York during his U.S. visit, generating significant
revenue at a time when the hotel was experiencing declining bookings. The stay
occurred just days before the October 2, 2018 murder …
Mohammed bin SalmanSaudi Arabia governmentTrump International Hotel New YorkDonald TrumpJamal Khashoggisaudi-arabiaforeign-paymentsemolumentskhashoggi-murdertrump-hotel+2 more
Brookfield Asset Management, with Qatar Investment Authority as second-largest investor, paid $1.28 billion for 99-year lease on Kushner’s troubled 666 Fifth Avenue property. Deal came after Charles Kushner’s April 2017 request for Qatari financing was rejected, followed by Jared …
Jared KushnerKushner CompaniesBrookfield Asset ManagementQatar Investment AuthorityCharles Kushneremolumentsqatarforeign-influencereal-estate-bailoutconflict-of-interest+1 more
On April 6, 2017, President Trump ordered the first direct U.S. military action against the Assad regime—launching 59 Tomahawk missiles at Shayrat air base in Syria—from his private Mar-a-Lago club while hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping for a state dinner. At approximately 8:40 PM, as Trump and …
Donald TrumpXi JinpingBashar al-AssadRex TillersonVladimir Putinmar-a-lagomilitary-actionsyriaconflicts-of-interestemoluments+1 more
On March 23, 2017, the General Services Administration (GSA) announced that its contracting
officer found the Trump Old Post Office LLC in compliance with the lease’s Section 37.19
(the “no elected official” clause). In January 2019, the GSA Inspector General reported that
the …
General Services AdministrationTrump Old Post Office LLCEmily MurphyGSA Office of Inspector Generalemolumentsgsaleaseoversight
When North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile on February 11, 2017, President Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe conducted national security deliberations in full view of Mar-a-Lago club members and guests at Trump’s private resort. As wealthy club members looked on from their …
Donald TrumpShinzo AbeSean Spiceremolumentsconflicts-of-interestmar-a-lagonational-security-riskcorruption
At a January 11, 2017 press conference, President-elect Trump’s tax attorney Sheri Dillon unveiled a plan to address conflicts of interest that ethics experts universally condemned as woefully inadequate. Rather than divesting from his businesses as ethics norms require, Trump would merely …
Donald TrumpSheri DillonDonald Trump Jr.Eric TrumpWalter Shaub+2 moreemolumentsconflicts-of-interestcorruptiontrump-organizationconstitutional-violations
Within weeks of the 2016 election, Saudi-funded lobbyists booked about 500 nights at Trump’s Washington, D.C., hotel as part of a campaign flying U.S. veterans to lobby against JASTA (the 9/11 victims’ law). This booking was part of a broader pattern of foreign government spending at the …
Saudi Arabia governmentTrump International Hotel WashingtonQorvis/MSLGroup (Saudi lobbyists)Donald Trumpforeign-paymentsemolumentssaudi-arabiatrump-hotelconstitutional-violation+2 more
Saudi Arabia purchases the entire 45th floor of Trump World Tower for $4.5 million. The five apartments (10 bedrooms, 13 bathrooms) were later converted to part of Saudi Arabia’s UN Mission in 2008, creating ongoing common charges and potential emoluments clause violations during Trump’s …
Saudi ArabiaTrump OrganizationTrump World Toweremolumentsforeign-influencesaudi-arabiadiplomatic-missionreal-estate
Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal purchased Trump’s yacht “Trump Princess” for $20 million in 1991, providing crucial liquidity during Trump’s severe financial crisis. Trump had bought the 282-foot yacht (originally owned by arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi) for $29 million in 1988, …
Prince Alwaleed bin TalalDonald TrumpTrump OrganizationSaudi Arabiaemolumentsforeign-influencesaudi-arabiafinancial-rescuedebt-crisis