Ivanka Trump mocked by former ethics chief for UAE trip just days before Trump Dubai golf course anniversary
The former head of the United States Office of Government Ethics has mocked Ivanka Trump for a recent trip to Dubai, which the former chief called a “corporate” trip on taxpayers’ dime.
Ms Trump, the president’s daughter and a White House senior adviser, took a trip to the United Arab Emirates city in a trip that began over the weekend — just in time for the third anniversary of the Trump International Golf Club Dubai.
During her trip, Ms Trump met with city officials, stood for photo ops and was seen in taxpayer funded videos strolling through the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.
“It was nice of you taxpayers to sponsor her corporate trip,” said Walter Shaub, a former ethics chief, on Twitter. “Yer the best.”
Mr Shaub noted that the US government-funded Voice of America “disseminated” the video of Ms Trump during her travels.
How convenient. It was nice of you taxpayers to sponsor her corporate trip. It was nice of you to fund the propaganda video VOA disseminated too. Yer the best. https://t.co/2V2M5aPhHi
— Walter Shaub (@waltshaub)
The fact that the trip coincided with the anniversary was spotted by Anna Massoglia with the Center for Responsive Politics, who said that travel for Ms Trump as well as Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr — who both receive Secret Service protection as members of the first family — cost the American public $250,000 for the club’s opening in the weeks after Mr Trump was sworn in as president.
The club is not owned by Mr Trump and his company, but publicity surrounding the property does benefit the family name financially.
The course was developed by Damac Properties, which pays to license the Trump name.
In 2016, Mr Trump’s Trump Organization reportedly was paid as much as $10 million, according to financial filings.
The president personally earned $141,433 in course management fees in 2017, according to financial disclosures reviewed by the New York Times.
Mr Trump has broken with tradition by not divesting from his businesses while serving as president, and has instead said he is not involved with the day-to-day of those operations.
Instead, his adult children have been given the reins to run the Trump Organization, which is reportedly planning a second Dubai golf course with Damac and a company connected to golfer Tiger Woods, who was honored by the president at the White House last year.
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