Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Foreign Diplomats Lining Up To Stay At Trump Hotels But Definitely Not To Curry Favor With Trump
By
David Colon
Published Nov 19, 2016
Modified Nov 19, 2016
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
David Colon
Published Nov 19, 2016
Modified Nov 19, 2016
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The question of whether Donald Trump would enrich himself off of the presidency has been looming, especially as his media surrogates have gone from saying he'll put his assets in a blind trust without actually meaning it to just calling the idea of a blind trust unfair to his children. And now in what's sure to continue to be an issue for the next four years, foreign diplomats are talking about staying at Trump's Washington, D.C. hotel so they can curry favor with him.
The Washington Post has a story about foreign diplomats who packed the Trump International Hotel for a pitch on all the wonders it has to offer. There was Trump-branded champagne, there was free food and there were raffles that included, of course, free stays in Trump hotels all around the world. Just in case you were worried that the diplomats in attendance saw staying at and praising the Trump International as a way to curry favor with the President-elect, you should keep worrying a lot, because your fears were confirmed multiple times.
"Believe me, all the delegations will go there,” one unnamed Middle Eastern diplomat told the paper. Another one, from Asia envisioned a future where he stayed at the hotel and told Trump how much he loved it. "Isn’t it rude to come to his city and say, ‘I am staying at your competitor?’” he asked rhetorically.
Another diplomat said he could see Trump going over the guest logs himself to see who stays there, which was supposed to demonstrate the "personal interest he takes in his businesses" as opposed to a concerning view the rest of the world takes when it comes to the President-elect's priorities.
While high-ranking diplomats themselves don't usually stay in hotels when visiting Washington, the Post notes that their staff usually do so and can take up entire floors at a time, an arrangement that's incredibly lucrative for the city's hotels. The Post also reports that there's no current ethics law against diplomats spending huge amounts of money at Trump properties while he's president.
The Wall Street Journal called on Trump to liquidate his company and put the assets in a true blind trust, and to put the trust in his children's names if he's really worried about them starving.
If he decides not to do this, the Journal suggests that "mixing money and politics could undermine his pledge to 'drain the swamp' in Washington. If a backlash allows Democrats to retake the House in 2018, Mr. Trump and his business colleagues would field subpoenas from the House Oversight Committee."
See, crybaby liberals worried about things like "The president enriching himself with his position at the expense of the country's wellbeing" aren't the only ones crying foul about this and other future ethical morasses.
Tagged
business ethics
donald trump
drain the swamp
David Colon
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC Council to consider earlier Legionella reporting after deadly outbreaks
A bill facing a hearing Monday would require cooling tower owners to notify city health officials when bacteria levels reach a much lower threshold.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 18, 2026 at 7:36 p.m. ET
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
By
Gino Fanelli
NYPD identifies Bronx man, 26, killed in Midtown subway shooting
By
Ryan Kost
,
Elizabeth Kim
and
Phil Corso
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .