The Post & Courier
Charleston, Sc 29401
Dear Sirs:
I don't begrudge President-elect Trump his holdings, reportedly an interest in some 500 enterprises all over the world. I am, however, in that part of the citizenry that says Mr. Trump ought to put these holdings into a blind trust, not have them continue to be actively managed by his children. I am talking about a trust so opaque sixty forensics scientists with magnifying glasses could not figure out where anything is.
Mr. Trump cancelled a news conference scheduled for December 15 to discuss this issue but promised to do so before he is sworn in on January 20th. If this is like making his tax returns transparent I won’t hold my breath.
It doesn’t matter how smart Mr. Trump is, when he is President Trump he is going to get new information and fresh news every waking moment of his life. This knowledge is going to impact his decision making - whether on behalf of the country or himself - particularly if he remains conversant with his holdings as “managed” by his children. It will be supremely impossible to do otherwise.
What does a conflicted President of the United States do if the leader of country X threatens to wipe out the President’s holdings in X unless the United States does what X wants? Knuckle under? Sacrifice a pile of wealth? Go to war?
Published December 23, 2016
