NEW YORK — The Trump Organization’s profit from foreign governments rose 26 percent last year, the company said Monday.
Spending by foreign dignitaries, embassies and other government representatives produced $191,538 in net income for President Donald Trump’s family business, according to Eric Trump, his son and company executive vice president. The Trump Organization donated an equivalent amount to the U.S. Treasury on Feb. 22 by writing a check signed by Eric Trump and his older brother, Donald Trump Jr.
It’s the second consecutive year the company has donated its profit from foreign governments to the Treasury, part of a bid to counter criticism that Trump may be violating the U.S. Constitution’s emoluments clauses by accepting payments from foreign governments. Last year, the Trump Organization donated $151,470 to the Treasury to offset profits from 2017.
“This voluntary donation fulfills our pledge to donate profits from foreign government patronage at our hotels and similar businesses during our father’s term in office,” Eric Trump said Monday in a statement.