Trump Jr. to Give Policy Speech Abroad (but He's Not Part of the Administration)

By Susan Wright | 9:36 PM on February 19, 2018

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*Donald Trump Jr., son of President-elect Donald Trump, walks from the elevator at Trump Tower, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)*

Wait… how is it that Donald Trump Jr. can speak on policy while abroad, when he’s not a member of the administration (allegedly)? He was left in control of the Trump business. This really seems like a conflict of interests.

While on an unofficial trip to India on Friday, Trump Jr. will not only be giving a policy speech on Indo-Pacific relations, at an event along with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but will be offering dinner meetings – for a hefty price, of course.

The Trump Organization has also been offering those interested in buying units in Trump properties the chance to meet Trump Jr. through full-page ads about the trip, the Post reported

“Trump is here — Are You Invited?” the headline of one ad reads, before offering home buyers the opportunity to pay about $38,000 to “join Mr. Donald Trump Jr. for a conversation and dinner.”

I don’t imagine that arrangement will go over well with ethics organizations.

It doesn’t.

“Complicated” is the tentative phrasing they’re using.

“Trump’s company is literally selling access to the president’s son overseas,” said Jordan Libowitz, the communications director for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). CREW has filed several complaints against the Trump administration.

“For many people wanting to impact American policy in the region, the cost of a condo is a small price to pay to lobby one of the people closest to the president, far away from watchful eyes,” Libowitz said.

Trump was advised to sell his interests in his businesses and to put the profits into a blind trust, in order to avoid any ethical pitfalls.

He refused.

“They are not going to discuss [the business] with me,” Trump said of his sons at the time. “Again, I don’t have to do this. They’re not going to discuss it with me.”

But then you get situations like this, where the son you left to run your business, is venturing into foreign nations to give policy speeches and allow those with the money to have his ear, for a spell.

What are the chances they’ll be talking about simply property?