During a press briefing on Friday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shut down reporters for suggesting that President Trump is using his office for his own or his family’s financial benefit, like Joe Biden did.
During the briefing, two different reporters insinuated that the President was profiting or being influenced by foreign money or doing personal business on an official trip to the Middle East.
Firstly, Andrew Eggar of the Bulwark questioned the president’s motives with the Trump cryptocurrency memecoin and the group behind the coin. He pointed out that some may seek to purchase large amounts of the cryptocurrency in an attempt to influence the president’s foreign trade policy.
Leavitt assured reporters that President Trump is “abiding by all conflict of interest laws” and is continuing to put the American people first in a calm exchange.
Egger: There are at least some people who are buying this coin who seem to view it as an opportunity to influence the president’s views. There was a logistics company this week that said they would buy $20 million in the coin in order to advocate for free trade between the US and Mexico. If buyers are buying for that reason, are they wasting their money?
Leavitt: Look, I can assure you, the president acts with only the interests of the American public in mind, putting our country first, and doing what’s best for our country. Full Stop. That’s his intention, and that’s what he’s focused on.
Later, however, Leavitt let it rip when another reporter questioned the president’s visit to the Middle East next week and whether he plans to bring family members along to do business.
“I think it’s frankly ridiculous that anyone in this room would even suggest that President Trump is doing anything for his own benefit. He left a life of luxury and a life of running a very successful real estate empire for public service, not just once, but twice,” Leavitt responded to this question and Eggar’s question.
She further slammed the press for not questioning the previous White House Press Secretaries on Biden’s millions of dollars made through influence peddling schemes with his family, calling Biden a “career politician who was clearly profiting off of his office.”
WATCH:
Reporter: You noted that he is a successful businessman. Do you know if the President has any plans to meet with any of the folks involved in any of the family businesses over there or see any of the sites…
Leavitt: Not to my knowledge, and let me just get to the premise of your question that both of you have raised. I think it’s frankly ridiculous that anyone in this room would even suggest that President Trump is doing anything for his own benefit. He left a life of luxury and a life of running a very successful real estate empire for public service, not just once, but twice. And again, the American public reelected him back to this White House because they trust he acts in the best interest of our country and putting the American public first. This is a President who has actually lost money for being President of the United States. I don’t remember these same types of questions being asked of my predecessor about a career politician who was clearly profiting off of his office. That is not what President Trump does, and this White House holds ourselves to the highest of ethical standards.
Read the full article here