The plan was that Trump would sign over control of his business to his children, so as not to create any conflict of interests.

That was the plan, and he even scheduled a December 15 press conference to give details on that plan.

The best laid plans of mice and men, however…

So since announcing he would be drawing that line between his job as POTUS and his company, several things have happened.

For starters, he has cancelled the press conference, sending Kellyanne Conway out to say with the holidays and cabinet filling work going on, he was going to put off that conference until after the new year kicks in.

We also hear that his oldest daughter, Ivanka, and her husband, Jared Kushner are house hunting in D.C.

That news is quickly followed by reports that Trump is seeking legal counsel on how to bring his daughter and her husband into his administration.

Today, it is being reported that those who he has said he would leave his business to, are having more than a passing influence on who he is giving cabinet positions.

Donald Trump Jr., according to reports, took a direct part in helping his father choose his Interior secretary. He sat in on interviews and made the phone calls to those to be interviewed.

His involvement comes as critics raise concerns about the links between the president-elect’s incoming administration and his business empire.

Trump Jr. and his siblings are expected to remain heavily involved with the Trump Organization after their father’s inauguration next month.

Donald Trump on Tuesday tapped Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) to lead the Interior Department.

Trump Jr. is an avid outdoorsman with a vocal interest in the Interior Department’s duties.

“The big joke at Christmas this year was the only job in government that I would want is with the Department of Interior,” he told outdoors publication Wide Open Spaces in November.

“I understand those issues. It’s something I’m passionate about. I will be the very loud voice about these issues in my father’s ear. No one gets it more than us.”

No doubt, Trump Jr. is correct. Time has proven that his children do enjoy an inordinate amount of influence over his decisions. Under normal circumstances, that wouldn’t be a problem. The presidency, however, is not normal circumstances.

I can’t think of any other president in American history whose outside interests may have interfered with his duty to the American people on quite the same level as we’re seeing unfold with this coming administration.