The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for May 15, 2025

This is a timely rebroadcast of a piece we did last November on the emoluments clause.  The numbers quoted are chump change compared with the money being thrown at President Donald Trump by foreign countries right now in bitcoin, sweetheart investments and even a luxury Boeing 747.  What would the framers have said?

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

The framers of the U.S. Constitution included the Foreign Emoluments Clause because they feared the influence, corruption and bribery they witnessed in Europe’s monarchies.  Why should Americans care about it?

The Foreign Emoluments Clause, in Article 1, Section 9, reads in part: “And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.”   

Fordham Law Professor Zephyr Teachout writes that James Madison mentions “corruption” 54 times in his Constitutional Convention notes, and that two dozen sections of the Constitution were designed to prevent it.

Fast forward to 2021, when after four years, 20 foreign governments spent an estimated $13.6 Million dollars at President Donald Trump’s properties, according to the House Ethics committee and good government groups.

Prior to Trump, Presidents put businesses and investments into a “blind trust”, shielding the President from information which could influence decisions not in the best interest of the country.  In 2017, Trump turned his assets to his two sons in a trust document, but continued to receive updates and income, and didn’t disclose the holding of over 100 trademarks in China and Russia until 2023.  

We have more on the Foreign Emoluments Clause at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org, and we’ll discuss how it could influence policy decisions in a future report. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Congressional Research Service – The Emoluments Clauses of the U.S. Constitution
National Constitution Center – The Foreign Emoluments Clause: Article I, Section 9, Clause 8
National Constitution Center – Prof. Zephyr Teachout – The Foreign Emoluments Clause
American Constitution Society – Profiting off the Presidency: Trump’s Violations of the Emoluments Clauses
U.S. Supreme Court – BRIEF OF AMICI CURIAE OF FORMER FEDERAL ETHICS OFFICIALS SUPPORTING
RESPONDENT
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (C.R.E.W) – Trump likely benefited from $13.6 million in payments from foreign governments during his presidency
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (C.R.E.W) – (2019)  Tracking President Trump’s unprecedented conflicts of interest
Business Insider – Trump waited until after he left office to disclose trademarks he owns in China and Russia

Groups Taking Action:

C.R.E.W., Public Citizen, Common Cause

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #EmolumentsClause #ForeignInfluence #Corruption #DonaldTrump

The post The Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause was Intended to Stop Bribery and Corruption.  Recently, Not So Much. appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for May 6, 2025

A new Trump-backed crypto currency company launched last September got a credibility boost when a United Arab Emirates investment fund used it to make a $2 billion dollar investment in another company.  This raises more conflicts of interest for President Donald Trump, still named as World Liberty Financial’s “Chief Crypto Advocate.” 

We reported recently on Trump’s “meme coin” venture, which has also been under fire for its potential to channel influence to the President. Trump, who previously called cryptocurrency a “scam”, changed his tune after crypto entrepreneurs contributed millions to his campaign, SuperPACs and inaugural committee.  Trump has since reversed Biden rules discouraging banks from owning crypto, and Trump’s appointees are considering issuing bank charters to crypto firms.  

ABC News reports that this latest $2 billion dollar investment by the UAE’s state-backed “sovereign fund” uses Trump’s brand of crypto “stablecoin,” called “USD1,” giving it credibility among several other cryptocurrencies.  

After announcing that deal, Eric Trump announced a new Trump-branded hotel in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates’ largest city, saying the approval process for the 80-story hotel took less than a month, and QUOTE “They always arrive at the word ‘yes’, which is a beautiful thing, and they do it quickly.”   

We have more on President Trump’s crypto conflicts at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.  

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

ABC News – (2024) Trump’s new crypto venture is light on details, heavy on potential ethics landmines
World Liberty Finance – Trump-Backed Cryptocurrency Company
CNBC – Trump-backed crypto bank joins stablecoin wars with new dollar-pegged token
ABC News – Trump family crypto venture tapped as part of $2B Emirati-backed investment deal

The White House – Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Establishes the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile
The Telegraph – UAE funnels $2bn into Trump’s cryptocurrency
The Financial Times – Trump Organization strikes Gulf deals ahead of US president’s visit
Newsweek – New Trump Tower Announced for Middle East City Skyline
Public Citizen – Crypto Has Successfully Purchased Large-Scale Political Influence in the U.S. 

American Democracy Minute – Trump ‘Meme Coin’ Cryptocurrency Scheme Selling Access to the President Raises Alarms for Emolument Clause Violations

Groups Taking Action:

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW),  Public Citizen

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Want ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!

Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #Trump #Cryptocurrency #MoneyinPolitics #Corruption #ForeignInfluence

The post President Trump’s Crypto Conflicts Compound as United Arab Emirates Investment Fund Uses $2B in Trump-Backed Cryptocurrency for Deal appeared first on American Democracy Minute.