Posted on 08/13/2019 12:57:07 PM PDT by yesthatjallen
President Trump on Tuesday disputed that he's profiting off the presidency, arguing instead that lawsuits alleging he's violated the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution amount to "presidential harassment" and are costing him significant legal fees.
"I got sued on a thing called emoluments. Emoluments. You ever hear of the word? Nobody ever heard of it before," Trump said at a Shell petrochemical plant in Pennsylvania.
"And what it is is presidential harassment, because this thing is costing me a fortune, and I love it," Trump added. "I love it because I’m making the lives of other people much, much better."
Multiple lawsuits have alleged Trump is in violation of the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution, which prohibits elected officials from receiving gifts or benefits from foreign governments without Congress’s approval.
A federal appeals court dismissed an emoluments lawsuit last month filed by Maryland and the District of Columbia, but a separate emoluments lawsuit brought by Democratic lawmakers is still proceeding through the court system.
The president on Tuesday again invoked a book deal that former President Obama signed upon leaving office for a reported $60 million, suggesting it was a similar issue to the emoluments cases. Trump last month called for an investigation into Obama's book deal.
However, Obama did not agree to the book deal until after he was out of the White House, and it is common for outgoing presidents to sign agreements to write memoirs. Former President George W. Bush signed a deal with Crown Publishing in 2009.
Trump's speech was billed as focused on energy and manufacturing. But the remarks quickly devolved into Trump railing against his critics, similar to a campaign rally.
At one point, the president began mocking those who have accused him of using the presidency to boost his business.
"This thing is costing me a fortune being president," Trump said. "Somebody said, 'oh he might have rented a room to a man from Saudi Arabia for $500.' What about the $5 billion I'll lose?"
There's no evidence to support Trump's claim that the presidency has cost him billions. He has refused to release his tax returns, making it difficult to accurately assess his wealth. But his latest financial disclosure forms show his properties earned tens of millions of dollars in the past year.
Watchdogs have raised concerns about the president's decision not to put his company in a blind trust, noting that lobbyists, foreign officials and political insiders may frequent his businesses to earn favor with the administration.
Still, Trump insisted that legal fees to defend against numerous lawsuits are costing him dearly.
"I don’t care. You know, if you’re wealthy it doesn’t matter," he said in Pennsylvania. "I just want to do a great job."
The tried-and-true means liberals use to destroy their enemies.
Bankrupt them.
Just focus on winning 2020 Mr. President.
When all is said and done if it does cost him billions the Left will still try to paint him as corrupt ... just incompetently corrupt.
Media... pathetic. Tax returns are not a balance sheet... they do not measure wealth.
Yes, the emoluments stuff is bullsh*t.
When they lose in court.
He should be able, like any citizen to recover Attorney fees, and sue for damages from those who sued him.
He should be made whole. And those who sued him should pay.
Correct, the pedestal was created in 1903, not the Statue. It was penned by American poet Emma Lazarus (1849–1887)
God bless you, protect you and guide you, Mr. President.
May the Lord make a mockery and a byword of your enemies, swiftly.
I would bet his fortune is HALF of what it used to BE!
SaveFerris posted:
“God bless you, protect you and guide you, Mr. President.
May the Lord make a mockery and a byword of your enemies, swiftly.”
I wholeheartedly agree.
There’s no evidence to support Trump’s claim that the presidency has cost him billions.
There is NO Evidence to Support Brett Samuels wild accusations. Mr President, why don’t YOU SUE Pelosi and Feinstein for violating the Emoluments clause. Without GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS they would be Homeless!!!
Exactly.
I can see him continuing to argue his case and basically proving it is costing him millions and watch the libs come out and say that they were ‘correct’ all along, he is too dumb to be President, even dummies like Clinton & BO went in as ‘paupers’ and came out (potential) billionaires.
These idiots are so ANTI PDJT, that he could come out and say he is making money hand over fist and they will claim he is losing money (UNTIL someone points out what they are saying)
Like was done to Palin. She couldn’t withstand it and has since borne the scorn of the country, including many Freepers.
Even worse. The leftists own the DOJ and the police state agencies. Who cares about the constitution when you can have endless investigations and make up you own rules and interpret the rules.
Trump escaped them by the skin of his teeth and he is a billionaire president. The average citizen doesn’t have a chance against them.
There is an interesting set of facts about Donald Trump’s wealth. Forbes maintains and has maintained for years he overstated his fortune and when they published their list, complained they understated the amount.
I think there is genuine animosity that has developed over the years as Forbes lifts all the rocks to uncover assets and liabiities. Today, Steve Forbes is editor in cjief and has even complained about Trump in his column.
Steve Forbes sold out and presides over a never Trump rag degenerting into liberal oblivion every day. It will be interesting to see how they hop on this turn of events.
For the record, Forbes wrote an extremely long piece describing the Muller Report on events that occurred during the campaign as the already in process attempt to secure a Trump Named hotel in Moscow went forward. The report said that the reason there is no such hotel is that he got elected president
Most interesting was the report there was no russian political conlusion but there was lots of russian business collusion. That was from the Mueller Report and never said outloud elsewhere
Hillary took furniture, silverware and other White House belongings when she left the White House and none of the butt kissers in the press gave a damn... same with the deep state. Didn’t care one wit.
If citizens hadn’t objected she would have gotten away with looting the White house... Then these jerks dare to give Trump a hard time - over EVERYTHING? God how we hate white liberal elites...
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