Trump 2.0, no qualms about earning extra money

Donald Trump has abandoned the few qualms of his first term as president to earn extra money and openly promote his private financial interests.

On Tuesday, he inaugurated another golf course bearing his name in the town of Balmedie, concluding a five-day visit to Scotland.

The ceremony, featuring bagpipes, fireworks, and a Trump campaign song ( YMCA by the Village People), was broadcast live on the White House YouTube channel.

Trump accompanied British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on a tour of the golf course on Monday.

The following day, he welcomed Scottish leader John Swinney, who has sparked controversy for providing subsidies to hold a golf tournament at Trump's property.

"Deeply worrying"

"All of this creates the impression that foreign governments are paying or paying tribute to Donald Trump's businesses in apparent attempts to curry favor with him and receive better treatment on key policy issues, including trade deals," said Noah Bookbinder, director of the nonprofit Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW).

It is "deeply troubling" that US diplomacy could be guided by the Trump family's financial interests , he added.

A White House official denied any wrongdoing in Trump's stay in Scotland because the president's assets are held in a trust managed by his children.

To applause, the 79-year-old president teed off on Tuesday on the new golf course with his son Eric, who led the project.

"We wanted this to be the best 36-hole course in the world. And there's no question we've achieved that," Trump Jr. said.

A reporter then asked Trump if this constituted a conflict of interest with his position as president.

"I haven't heard anything like that," Trump replied, and immediately changed the subject.

"Could you see my drive on the first hole? (...) Pretty long, pretty long," he commented.

Eric and Donald Trump Jr., who was also present at the inauguration, are executive vice presidents of the Trump Organization, a holding company that manages a wide range of properties and other assets.

During his stay in Scotland, Trump also hosted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at another of his golf resorts , in the town of Turnberry.

Cryptocurrencies

The Trump family owns more than a dozen luxury golf resorts that can host receptions or tournaments.

The Trumps hope that one day the British Open will be played at their Turnberry estate .

Trump's children are involved in various businesses, openly encouraged by their father from the White House, even though he does not direct them.

The president's administration has promoted cryptocurrencies, which have inflated Trump's wealth. Trump was widely criticized for hosting a private dinner in April for the top 25 holders of $TRUMP, a crypto asset associated with him and called a meme coin.

He has promoted this product on his social media platform, Truth Social, which is part of the Trump Media company.

"Co-founder emeritus"

Trump's wife, Melania, is also involved in lucrative ventures, such as a documentary produced by Amazon.

The president and Steve Witkoff , his envoy for Russia and the Middle East, are linked through their families to a cryptocurrency company called World Liberty Financial.

The company, whose website says Trump is a co-founder emeritus, has faced criticism for a recent transaction with a company in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

During a tour of the Middle East, Trump agreed to a request from Emirati authorities to purchase cutting-edge electronics from the United States.

On the same trip, Trump agreed to receive a Boeing airplane as a gift from Qatar to the United States, a gift that Democrats consider a blatant conflict of interest.

During his first term, the Trump Organization declared a moratorium on investments with private companies in other countries. This time, it isn't abstaining.