Well, well. Remember how Trump has been and continues to be mired in potential conflict of interest with his business dealings, and how trying to chase down Trump’s conflicts of interest has been likened to ‘catching smoke’? He has been criticized for unethical behavior and his Cabinet has been slammed on spending. Ethics watchdogs have also warned him of using government resources for partisan political purposes. Looks like Trump missed all of those memos.
Not only has he broken from tradition, but Trump is again displaying his “fascination with the trappings of power, and his blurring of the lines between his presidency and both his campaign and business operations.”
Here are Trump’s “glitzier” version of Presidential medallions. Looks like a cheap gift shop item to me.
NEW: The White House Communications Agency team that made the TRUMP-KIM JONG-UN coins also made coins with Mar-a-Lago on one side & @POTUS seal, WH & AF1 on the other. They scrapped plans for a Trump Tower/Bedminster coin when we started asking questions. https://t.co/jCXlZFsNPG pic.twitter.com/Oprpo8Wjzm
— Kenneth P. Vogel (@kenvogel) June 24, 2018
The WH said TRUMP & his staff were not involved in the coins, which they say were paid for by individual White House Communications Agency staff. But watchdogs warn of rules barring gov't resources (emails, staff time, etc.) for promoting private business. https://t.co/jCXlZFsNPG
— Kenneth P. Vogel (@kenvogel) June 24, 2018
Other fun trip coins produced by the White House Communications Agency team feature (1) the Pope and (2) Davos — with the tails sides of both featuring TRUMP & the @POTUS seal. pic.twitter.com/cmZ2pLGPzb
— Kenneth P. Vogel (@kenvogel) June 24, 2018
The @WhiteHouse says the trip coins are produced by & for the military & advance staffers who facilitate TRUMP’s trips. But they come amidst a Trumpification of challenge coins that has yielded bigger, golder & shinier coins than under his predecessors. https://t.co/jCXlZFsNPG pic.twitter.com/QJghd4rAp1
— Kenneth P. Vogel (@kenvogel) June 24, 2018
TRUMP is fascinated by challenge coins, which his close associates attribute to his appreciation for military traditions, as well as his attraction to flashy gilded displays. He has personally reviewed several designs for his official challenge coin. https://t.co/jCXlZFsNPG
— Kenneth P. Vogel (@kenvogel) June 24, 2018
“Ethics watchdogs are worried”.
I think that is an understatement, no?
