1. United States
2. Md.
3. Letter

Trump’s Middle East Profiteering Is a Constitutional Crisis Donald Trump departs Monday for a four-day trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, presented as official diplomacy. In reality, it overlaps with major Trump Organization business expansions in the same region—direct violations of the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, which prohibits federal officials from profiting off foreign governments without congressional approval. Meanwhile, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner—who held no elected office but previously served as a senior White House adviser and Middle East negotiator—has been informally advising administration officials on foreign policy while receiving billions from the very governments Trump is meeting with. Key business entanglements: • Trump Tower Dubai (announced April 30, 2025): 80-story tower, members-only luxury club, developed with Dar Global. • Trump Golf Resort Doha (announced May 1, 2025): 18-hole course, beachside villas, developed with Qatari Diar—a real estate firm run by the Qatari government. • Trump Tower Jeddah: Details leaked ahead of trip, located on the Persian Gulf; marketed as a centerpiece of the “Trump Riviera.” Kushner’s ongoing conflicts of interest: • Secured a $2 billion investment from Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund in 2021, just after leaving the White House. • His private equity firm, Affinity Partners, has received at least $112 million in fees from Gulf state investors as of mid-2024, with no evidence of returned profits. • Now re-engaged in Middle East diplomacy behind the scenes—despite his financial entanglements. The president is enriching himself and his family through foreign governments while shaping U.S. policy. This is not just unethical—it’s unconstitutional. Congress must investigate immediately and take action to uphold the law, protect our democracy, and enforce the Emoluments Clause.